Each year the JAEE Editorial Committee members decide on the best article prize for the journal. Criteria include:
An article which reports empirical research which contributes to the development of the theory of agricultural education and extension and competence for rural innovation and transformation.
An article which helps to increase the effectiveness of agricultural education and extension programs by using theories of agricultural education and extension, which can also be used in other situations than the situation which has been studied (effectiveness).
Currency/topicality/urgency of issue/it being a timely topic worldwide.
References used are up to date; drawing from leading authors in the field; linked to the current international scientific debate (well-referenced).
Methodology - appropriateness; clarity of explanation; multi-methods.
Clear link between data/issues and conclusions - 'insightfulness'/depth of critique (internal consistency).
It being innovative.
It combines policy with research (policy relevance).
There are important practical implications reported (practicality).
It being well written and having a good structure (clarity).
Articles of which editorial board members are among the authors cannot be nominated.
The best article for 2019, by Michelle Jane Rice, Jane Marina Apgar, Anne-Maree Schwarz, Enly Saeni and Helen Teioli, is entitled ‘Can agricultural research and extension be used to challenge the processes of exclusion and marginalisation?’
The authors analysed how agricultural research and learning activities facilitated through participatory action research can help researchers and extension officers see, understand and challenge processes that cause social exclusion and marginalisation and lead to inequitable access to agricultural opportunities. A combination of (i) starting with a collective vision; (ii) facilitating systematic reflection exercises; and (iii) having locally tuned facilitators creating safe spaces; makes processes of social exclusion tangible, discussable and ultimately actionable, illustrating the potential of the research and extension processes to facilitate social change in real time. The paper makes a contribution to the growing body of theory and literature on innovation systems and people-centred approaches to agricultural development, by highlighting the facilitation challenges and opportunities that can create more learning focused and power-aware agricultural programming.
The editorial committee congratulates the authors for their excellent work in advancing educational and extension theory and practice.
The article will be freely available on the JAEE website www.tandfonline.com/raee.