Development of a Multi-University Graduate Certificate Program in Bioenergy and Sustainable Technologies

Widespread interest in green and sustainable industries has resulted from a general recognition of the need for systems that meet societal needs without long-term degradation of the environment. With the growing interest in bioenergy and sustainable technologies, there is a need for individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary to develop and sustain biobased enterprises. 

In 2006, industrial practitioners with a focus on biobased materials and biofuels processing were surveyed regarding the experiential and educational needs of their current and future employees. The overwhelming message from the survey was that the employee pool lacked knowledge and experience with biobased processes.  The survey findings demonstrated that there exists an urgent need for specialized training that is interdisciplinary in its approach and which is accessible for on-campus students as well as industry personnel who would like to pursue distance education while working full-time.

Since that time, four Universities have collaborated to develop a new graduate certificate program that prepares participants for careers in the emerging biofuels and biobased products industries by enhancing their knowledge in renewable resource development.  In order to optimize resources and to utilize expertise at the partner institutions, the program is being delivered via distance education through each of the partner institutions, making it accessible anywhere in the world. The multidisciplinary graduate program involves several different areas of study that directly support biobased product and bioenergy development, including chemical engineering, biological and agricultural engineering, plant sciences, agronomy, and agricultural economics.

This presentation will describe the development of the academic program along with the rationale behind selection of a graduate certificate format.  The curriculum and its implementation in a distance learning environment will be defined.  The Agricultural Interactive Distance Education Alliance (AG*IDEA), which is an academic board within the Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance (Great Plains IDEA), provides an administrative structure for the program.  The relationships between the member institutions and with AG*IDEA will be explained.