Project assistance completion report : agricultural education project

When the project began, COA, Jamaica's only center for tertiary agricultural training, was in disarray. With the project's assistance COA has been revitalized: the College has developed strong and enduring ties to Louisiana State University (the primary TA contractor), launched a Foundation Trust Fund for lasting financial support, doubled dorm space, financed U.S. faculty training, and increased enrollment from a pre-project maximum of 240 to nearly 400. COA graduates are having a significant impact on the sector, with nearly 100% of graduating students receiving and accepting offers of employment within 90 days of graduation. Administrative improvements included preparation of a precise mission statement, modification of the COA's administrative cost structure, and development of a comprehensive set of administrative policy statements. In the Knockalva Agricultural School, new and renovated classrooms and laboratories have increased student capacity to 190, and the farm complex was centralized adjacent to the dairy facility. Training was the project's most successful component, with 29 individuals sent for U.S. degree training, and 33 academic degrees earned so far. Major staff limitations have been overcome as a result of this component, and a stable and well-trained teaching force has evolved. Detailed achievements under the construction component are included in the report. Lessons learned are as follows. (1) Because the project failed to train those responsible for following USAID procurement requirements, the procurement of equipment was poorly planned and executed. (2) Passage of the COA Act and the autonomy it provides, as well as the creation of the COA-Jamaica Foundation, will have significant impact on COA's long-term viability and sustainability. (3) Training in institutional management and administration is an important area that should be included in future programs.