In Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) countries, approximately 500 degrees and programs are offered in agriculture. Degrees in agronomy include agronomic engineering (Ingeniero Agrónomo, in Spanish or Engenheiro Agrônomo, in Portuguese). Some schools also specialize in forestry education and offer a forestry engineering degree. Generally, the agronomic engineer program in Latin America requires students to undertake courses of agricultural instruction at the university level on a full-time basis for five years.
Many of these programs have contributed significantly to the rural and agricultural development of their respective countries. Most graduates of these programs, however, go on to work in commercial agriculture. Currently, the main challenge for schools of agriculture is to graduate professionals who are technically prepared to contribute to the development of small-scale farmers as they have with commercial farmers. In doing so, farmers of different levels will have the opportunity to modernize their operations and to become more efficient and competitive (FAO, 1993).
The general education system of Uruguay consists of three levels: primary school (six years of study), secondary school (six years of study) and higher education, or university level (which varies from five to seven years of study). Primary school and the first part of secondary school are compulsory. Uruguay is one of the few nations in the Western Hemisphere in which all education, including college and postgraduate work, is free within the public system. As a result, Uruguay has a high rate of education and a low rate of illiteracy, at 3 percent (INE, 2000a).
The main institution for higher education in Uruguay is the University of the Republic of Uruguay, a public institution founded in 1849 and located in Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay. The University has 55 532 students and 3 287 faculty members. Over the past ten years, new universities have emerged as a result of the privatization of many institutions throughout the developing world. Currently, there are 15 380 students attending private universities where 1 284 professors are employed.
The "forestry education and training system" in Uruguay refers to institutions and courses in forestry, or agriculture where forestry is a component, including all levels and duration from full-time degrees to short-term and continuing education. Education and training are, in some cases, used inter-changeably, although training is often used in association with the teaching and learning of specific skills (FAO, 1997).
In Uruguay, higher education in forestry is largely based in the FA, at the University of the Republic of Uruguay. The objective of the FA is to provide higher education in agronomy and to develop the country's human resources in agrarian and forest sciences, as well as research and agronomic extension. The Catholic University of Uruguay, Damaso A. Larrañaga, also offers training in this area. For technical or vocational and training, the University of Labour (Universidad del Trabajo del Uruguay) offers a three-year program after the first part of high school.
The FA was the main institution for forestry research until the National Institute of Agricultural Research (INIA) was created in 1990. A forestry research program based in Tacuarembó, in northern Uruguay, has since been developed. The forestry research program at INIA specializes in tree selection as well as vegetative reproduction of forests species, however, eucalyptus cloning systems are the Institute's principal area of research. While the Faculty of Agronomy finances small research projects, the most significant support comes from external sources.
The organization of the FA was established by the Organic Law in 1958, which reflected principles forged after a long historical evolution. This includes university autonomy with government integration, and participation in decision-making, of groups made up by the faculty and which include faculty staff, graduated professionals of the program and current students.
The Board of Directors for the College is made up of twelve members. These include the Dean, as president, five professors, three professionals graduated from the school and three students. Council duties include the development of regulations for the organization and operation of the faculty, the generation of study plans, appointment of personnel and budgetary planning.
The FA is divided into seven technical departments: animal production and pastures, social sciences, soils and water, forestry, statistics and information, plant production and environmental management. The faculty also has administrative units and four experimental stations in the country.
The Department of Forestry, which is located within the FA, was created in 1959 and has pioneered many developments in Uruguayan forestry. During the last 40 years, the department has undergone several changes. In 1963, the Agronomic Engineer program was changed to include pre-graduation specializations focusing on cattle and extensive crops, horticultural production, and forestry. In 1980, with the collaboration of the FAO, the pre-graduating specialization was extended to two years. The third curricula revision occurred in 1989, when the Major in Forestry Production was reduced to one and a half years in duration.
There are 230 educational staff in the FA, including 15 in the Forestry Department. There are 1 300 students according to the census of 1999, mostly from Uruguay. From them, 20 students choose forestry production annually. The FA also offers a short-term graduate course as a part of the Permanent Education Program of the University.
