A Comparison of the Effectiveness of On-Campus and Off-Campus Training Courses for Agricultural Staff at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)

The study aimed to compare the effectiveness of IITA training courses conducted at on-campus and offcampus locations. A survey research design was used for the study with a population of 210 respondents who attended IITA courses both on-campus and offcampus. Data were collected with the use of questionnaires. The results showed that trainees perceived that there was no difference in the overall assessment of courses and achievement of course objectives of both onand off-campus courses. The same result was obtained for course design and delivery, which indicates that resource persons at offcampus are as technically effective as their counterparts on-campus. Trainees however perceived a better interaction of resource persons with trainees and better facilities in the on-campus than at off-campus locations. It was therefore recommended that moving of training courses from the headquarters of international centers to off-campus sites should be a gradual process until adequate facilities are provided.