Transforming Agricultural Education
“It’s to make it so that people are more successful in their efforts to grow food and support food security.”
Julia Fisher, Program Coordinator, VIU Agricultural Microcredentials
Responding to Rural Challenges
Like many regions in rural British Columbia, the COVID-19 pandemic brought concerns around food security, supply chains, and job sustainability. A province-wide gap analysis conducted by VIU identified unmet educational needs across B.C., including those in agriculture and small-scale food production.
With funding from the BC Ministry of Post Secondary Education and Future Skills, and the Continuing Education and Training Association of BC, along with collaboration with Canadian Organic Growers and SeedChange through the StrongerBC Future Skills Grant, VIU began developing a suite of focused microcredentials in agriculture designed for both current and aspiring farmers.
Agriculture as Cultural Cornerstone
In Vancouver Island’s Cowichan Valley, agriculture has long been a cornerstone of the culture and the economy. At Vancouver Island University’s Cowichan Campus in Duncan, agriculture education is being transformed in response to climate change and evolving food systems.
As rural communities across British Columbia face pressures from soil degradation, shifting weather patterns, and water scarcity, VIU has emerged as a hub for hands-on, interdisciplinary training that combines ecological science with traditional agricultural knowledge, including Indigenous perspectives.
What are Microcredentials?
The British Columbia Micro-Credential Framework was developed and released in 2021 as an opportunity for individuals to gain skills and access employment opportunities in their area. They are a flexible way for learners who may not be able to access or do not wish to enroll in longer post-secondary programs.
Anyone at any stage of their education can earn these microcredentials and use them to demonstrate to employers the competencies they have obtained. These microcredentials are an ongoing discussion and will continue to be updated as research and experiences with them change.
VIU Cowichan and the Sustainable Development Goals
A video on how VIU Cowichan campus has connected to the Sustainable Development Goals.
Community Impact
Supporting “Small-Ag” in the Cowichan Valley
On Vancouver Island and in the Cowichan Valley, agriculture focuses on small-scale production, otherwise known as “small-ag”. This is farming on a significantly smaller scale, with smaller numbers of livestock and fewer fossil fuel-based chemical inputs and energy sources.
“Generally, the energy is towards sustainable agriculture,” says Fisher, “a lot of the students were driven by that.” However, these farmers face unique challenges, including water scarcity, limited resources, and difficulty in sustaining their careers. Therefore, the VIU microcredentials aim to ensure that farmers leave with knowledge they can apply to a sustainable career.
Pilot Courses: Three Foundational Programs
The first three pilot courses were designed to incorporate both technical training and community integration. Each course features an online and remote component, complemented by in-person field days at local farms where students learn from community experts on farming practices specific to the Cowichan Valley, including Indigenous speakers.
“We have some really great instructors who took the time to provide extra resources and background information,” Fisher says, “and people can take the course from anywhere and then come to Cowichan for the field days.”
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Three Pilot Microcredentials:
- Sustainable Soils Management – Teaches soil science and soil management planning
- Agroecology – Introduces agro-ecological principles, weaving traditional ecological knowledge with social and economic impacts
- Organic Seed Production – Covers organic seed production for vegetables, including Canadian certification, regulation, and business models
Hybrid Learning Model
Although the program has only just completed its pilot year, the feedback from students has been overwhelmingly positive. The flexible hybrid format allows participants from across BC to access agricultural training without daily commuting requirements.
This accessibility has been crucial for reaching rural learners who might not otherwise be able to participate in traditional campus-based programs, while still providing hands-on field experience in the Cowichan Valley.
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Program Features:
- Online coursework accessible from anywhere
- In-person field days at local farms
- Community experts and Indigenous speakers
- No prerequisites required
Expanding to Livestock Management
A new course for 2026 includes a collaboration with the Small-Scale Meat Producers Association, with funding support from the Province of British Columbia through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Investment Agriculture Foundation.
The Livestock Husbandry Fundamentals course teaches students the fundamentals of livestock care and management for animals such as cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs, expanding the program’s scope beyond crop production.
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Future Expansion:
- Livestock Husbandry Fundamentals launching 2026
- Full cohorts of 30 students per course
- Partnerships with rural agricultural communities
- Regular updates to incorporate current climate adaptation strategies
How Other Institutions Can Develop Similar Programs
Align with Provincial Priorities
The success of VIU’s agriculture program lies in its responsiveness to both local and provincial priorities. Under British Columbia’s StrongerBC: Future Ready Action Plan, microcredentials have emerged as a critical pathway for equipping learners with in-demand, skills-based training.
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Key Considerations:
- Conduct gap analysis to identify unmet educational needs
- Offer short, flexible programs responsive to labour market needs
- Focus on climate resilience and regional challenges
- Ensure accessibility with no prerequisites
Build Strong Community Partnerships
Institutional collaboration has been another key factor in this process. VIU works closely with local farmers, Indigenous knowledge holders, and environmental organizations to co-develop course content and provide access to real-world learning environments, including farms, soil labs, and seed preservation sites.
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Partnership Strategies:
- Co-develop curriculum with community partners
- Include Indigenous knowledge holders in course design
- Establish diverse advisory boards representing farmers
- Jointly facilitate courses with academic and community experts
Create Place-Based Programming
Programs are tailored to the specific food production challenges of the region. This place-based approach has allowed VIU to build scalable models that support policy advocacy, economic development, and innovation in rural agriculture. The integration of Indigenous land-based learning further grounds the curriculum in the values of reciprocity, stewardship, and community care.
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Implementation Tips:
- Design hybrid models with online coursework and field days
- Address region-specific challenges (water scarcity, soil degradation)
- Plan for realistic development time and costs
- Build in regular updates for current science and climate adaptation
Scale Responsively to Community Needs
Looking forward, VIU aims to expand its agriculture education programs, deepen its partnerships, and explore regional collaborations with other universities, agricultural networks, and Indigenous nations. Microcredentials are reactive by nature—meeting current needs and adapting as those needs evolve.
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Growth Strategies:
- Understand that programs address temporary market needs
- Build capacity to shelve and revive courses as demand changes
- Expand partnerships across rural British Columbia
- Continuously assess and respond to community feedback
Explore VIU’s Website
Learn more about VIU’s microcredentials program and explore how to get involved.
A Model for Rural Agricultural Education
The VIU Cowichan Campus agriculture program exemplifies how sustainability-focused education can directly impact rural communities. By offering microcredentials, hands-on training, and climate-adaptive agricultural knowledge, VIU is preparing students, farmers, and local stakeholders for the evolving challenges of food security and climate change.
With continued investment in sustainable agriculture education, programs like these will play a critical role in strengthening local food systems, supporting economic resilience, and ensuring environmental sustainability. VIU’s blend of practical experience, policy engagement, and interdisciplinary collaboration serves as a model for other universities looking to support climate-resilient agriculture.