he 13th OECD Rural Development Conference was held in Cavan, Ireland on 28-30 September 2022 under the theme "Building Sustainable, Resilient and Thriving Rural Places". These are the presentations from the Conference parallel session "Innovative Ways to Deliver Education and Skills Training in Rural Areas ". For more information visit https://www.oecd.org/rural/rural-development-conference/.

1. Approaches & practices towards
knowledge exchange in agricultural and
forest-wood value chains
Luka Juvančič
jointly with: Ana Novak, Tanja Šumrada
University of Ljubljana
Parallel session: Innovative Ways to Deliver Education and Skills Training in Rural Areas
OECD Rural Development Conference
Cavan (Ireland), 29 September 2022

2. Content of the presentation
1. Approaches towards knowledge transfer/exchange
 Mass
 Group or participative
 Individual
2. Methods and tools of knowledge transfer/exchange
 Printed materials
 Lectures and courses
 Demonstration events
 Mutual learning (learning groups)
 Digital contents
Methods define the way
of interaction between
actors in the process of
knowledge exchange and
are an integral part of a
broader approach/strategy

3. 1. Approaches towards knowledge
transfer/exchange
Time spent / Client
Adaptation
to
the
needs
of
individual
client
Mass approaches
Group
approaches
Individual
approaches
 Approaches - sorted by:
 Number of target
recipients
 Their involvement
 Resources committed
(finance, staff, time)

4. Adaptation to the needs of individual client; time spent/client
Complexity
of
the
situation
/
problem
Knowledge transfer (eg. new
measures & instruments)
Seeking for better /
innovative solutions
Empowerment of individuals,
development of human resources
Mass approaches
Group
approaches
Individual
approaches
1. Approaches towards knowledge transfer/exchange

5. Approach Description Methods and tools
Mass
Wider reach (25+), low financial
input/client
Assumption: Linear model
Lectures and courses
Demonstration activities
Printed materials
Digital contents
Group
Limited range (8-25 clients)
Assumption: participative model
Mutual learning – learning interaction,
collective action and empowerment of
rural actors (‚clients‘)
Study groups
Demonstration activities
Individual
Individual communication, consideration
of the needs and interests of each farm
Resource intensive (staff, costs, time)
Individual consultation,
mentoring
Clients
Knowledge
brokers (eg.
extension)
Knowledge
providers
(‚academia‘)
Knowledge,
skills,
competences
Acquiring knowledge: linear Vs participative
Knowledge
providers
Knowledge brokers Clients
Knowledge, skills, competences

6. Low level of
involvement
High level of
involvement
Several
participants
Few
participants
Open day at
good practice case
Guided tour of a
model case
Workshop –
study group
good practice
visit +
discussion
Demonstration of
the use of
equipment
Lectures / courses
Informing and
awareness raising:
printed materials
…from live performance
Demonstration activities
Group activities
Individual activities
Mass activities
Legenda:
On-site
consultation

7. Webcast = live
streaming, no interaction
Low level of
involvement
High level of
involvement
Several
participants
Few
participants
Webinar = live
streaming,
possibility of
interaction
Farminar = live
demo streaming,
possibility of
interaction
Small group
online
workshop
Discussion on
the forum or in
the chat
(WhatsApp,
Viber)
Informing
through social
networks (FB,
Twitter)
Podcast = avdio
contents
Website(s)
I. Informing II. Informing + discussion
III. Participative approach
…to digital format

8. Low level of
involvement
High level of
involvement
Several
participants
Few
participants
Different contexts, different tools (I)
„Signpost Series“ podcasts and
webinars for farmers, TEAGASC, IRL

9. Low level of
involvement
High level of
involvement
Several
participants
Few
participants
Different contexts, different tools (I)
„Signpost Series“ podcasts and
webinars for farmers, TEAGASC, IRL

10. Low level of
involvement
High level of
involvement
Several
participants
Few
participants
Different contexts, different tools (II)
„Skylark foundation“
peer learning - farmers and supply chain
partners, NL

11. Low level of
involvement
High level of
involvement
Several
participants
Few
participants
Different contexts, different tools (III)
„Industrial, but sustainable“
market-driven collective action, tomato
value chain in ER (IT)

12. Low level of
involvement
High level of
involvement
Several
participants
Few
participants
Different contexts, different tools (IV)
Rooting kids‘ relationship with
(local) food various initiatives (SI)

13. Conclusions (I)
1. Systematic and strategic approach needed for successful and effective
knowledge exchange
 Understanding target group & the challenge tackled
 Setting clear objectives - plan:
– contents, approach, methods & tools
– time, personnel, financial resources
– continuous monitoring and ultimately, evaluation
3. Supporting factors that can contribute to successful implementation
 using various didactic tools
 encouraging participative learning
 participant-friendly design (time, knowledge of the target group)
 motivating for further action and education

14. Conclusions (II)
3. No „silver bullet" approach to rural knowledge exchange
 the choice should be based on the context (target group, initial state, objectives)
Mass
(above 25 participants)
Group
(up to 25 participants)
Individual
(individual clients)
Adequacy
 Awareness raising and
information
 Transfer of simple and basic
skills
 Exchange and search for
more complex knowledge
and solutions
 promoting collective action,
upscaling (eg. rural
manufacturing)
 "Mature" stage of
implementation of
 Support in the
implementation of more
demanding strategies /
business models / policies

15. Assoc. prof. dr. Luka Juvančič
University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty
luka.juvancic@bf.uni-lj.si
Thank you