Pengembangan Kompetensi Penyuluh Pertanian Lulusan Pendidikan Jarak Jauh Universitas Terbuka

Abstract

Agricultural extension workers who are competent in aspects of their personality, task, andragogic, dan social interaction, potentially more capable of providing satisfactory service to the farmers. The development of these competencies, one of which can be obtained through education at Universitas Terbuka. The objectives of this study are : (1) to identify the profile of Agricultural Extension Workers graduated from UT; (2) to identify the level of competencies of agricultural extention agents and factors contributing to their competencies; (3) to identify the level of performances of agricultural extention workers and factors contributing to their performances; and (4) to formulate strategies for development of agricultural extention agent competencies. Data were collected in July through December 2008. A survey technique was implemented among 118 agricultural extension agents who were graduated from UT and among 88 farmers in four different locations, namely Serang, Karawang, Cirebon, and Tanggamus. By using Indepth interview, a qualitative information were also collected in order to elaborate the results. Data was analyzed by using descriptive, regression, and path analysis. The findings indicated that : (1) The profile of UT’s alumni was vary in individual characteristics, learning activities at UT, learning sources from others, and environment factors; (2) UT’s alumni had a medium level in personal, tasks, andragogic, and social competencies. Factors contributing to their personal competencies were age, working experience, and farmer’s needs. Factors contributing to their tasks competencies were motivation, interaction with learning materials, and interaction in study group. Factors contributing to their andragogic competencies were tutorial, learning facilities, and training. While factors contributing to their social competencies were age and subject matter; (3) UT’s alumni had a medium level in their performance. Factors contributing their performances were interaction with learning material, tutorial, interaction in study group, and personal, task, andragogic, and social competencies. This study suggests several strategies in developing competencies for agricultural extension workers at Universitas Terbuka. Those strategies are focused on enhancing: (1) the cognitive level of their tasks, andragogic, and social interaction, (2) the affective level of their personality and tasks; and (3) the psychomotor level of their personality, tasks, andragogic, and social interaction. Those can be achieved through developing the learning activities at UT.