Final report : project no. 367-11-110-102, contract no. AID/NESA-C-1197; MUCIA/AID project at the Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science of Tribhuvan University, Rampur, Nepal

The project was a success. With long- and short-term TA from the Midwest Universities Consortium for International Activities (MUCIA), IAAS has evolved from a preprofessional and vocational training center to one also offering associate and bachelors" degrees in teaching, research, and service, and planning is underway for an M.S. program. IAAS structure has expanded from three loosely defined areas of study managed by one Dean into 11 departments managed by 3 Deans and 2 Campus Chiefs (with another Dean expected to be added), and faculty size has increased from 21 to 134 (36 at branch locations) vs. a goal of 93. M.S. and Ph.D. training were provided in the United States, the Philippines, and Thailand for 38 faculty/staff members, all of whom have completed their program, and all but three of whom have returned to Nepal. (Overseas training for an additional 38 was funded directly by USAID/N or by other sponsors.) Short-term training for IAAS personnel included U.S. Department of Agriculture short courses or special programs, group and individual study tours, on-campus courses, and management training in the Philippines. The project also helped establish an IAAS research program and financed 28 research projects; 22 have been completed, and some findings are being applied in IAAS" pilot extension project. Articles based on IAAS research have appeared regularly in the six issues of the IAAS Journal published to date. MUCIA"s involvement with IAAS"s branch campuses was minimal. Building construction at IAAS"s new main capmus at Rampur was undertaken in a companion USAID/N project; recent road construction by the Chinese has reduced travel time between Kathmandu and Rampur from 9-12 to 4 hours; a telephone connection will soon replace communication by 2-way radio. The project"s chief measure of success, however, is the more than 2,595 1-year, 1,338 2-year, and 237 3-year students graduated between 1976 and 1983. Both students and their employers have complimented IAAS preparation.