Consultancy and advisory work is considered as an important part / sub system of the (agricultural) knowledge and innovation system and ensures knowledge flow, supports the creation, exchange, and transfer of knowledge among different actors of the system and supports problem solving and decision making.
Due to the diversity of actors and clients, topics, but also collaboration modes, advisors need different competences to assume their roles and tasks.
At the end of the module, students…
- Locate the advisory system and consultants as part of the overall Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System;
- Explain the different understandings of consulting / advisory / extension terms
- Describe different forms of consulting and advisory services, methods and media to provide advisory services;
- Explain different models of financing and providing consulting services;
- Describe consulting approaches in their countries using the concept of the “components of an advisory approach”
- Distinguish different approaches in providing consulting services;
- Acquire basic consulting methodology competences (active listening, providing feedback).