Since the privatization in 1991, collective farms no longer exist in the Ukraine. Above is a large, private farm in the village of Sknyliv. Stacie Bird, Information and Communications Technologies, College of Agricultural Sciences

Historically, when a family in rural America needed a barn, the community would come together, donating the time and skills necessary for the barn raising. Together they would build an entire barn in a few days--an impossible task for a family working alone. It's this type of effort that Deanna Behring, the director of International Programs in the College of Agricultural Sciences, calls for to help the world solve common problems, reap mutual benefits and make the world a better place for future generations. She refers to it as a "global barn raising."

This kind of commitment to international cooperation has helped fuel Penn State's economic and agricultural development efforts abroad--which brings benefits to those closer to home as well.

"Investing in agriculture worldwide can help expand trade opportunities, ensure safe food supplies, provide valuable scientific knowledge, preserve our precious natural resources and promote cross-cultural understanding and awareness," said Behring. She cites faculty and extension work in Poland, Russia, Serbia, Moldova, Armenia and the Baltic countries that is transforming the agricultural landscape of those countries from the former Soviet model to free-market economies.

Partners in the Ukraine
In the Ukraine, for example, Penn State is helping build the first agricultural business outreach center at the L'viv State Agricultural University. "Our faculty have worked with a cadre of experts at our partner university to administer their first-ever needs assessment among local and regional farmers, bankers and entrepreneurs. We're helping map out a series of seminar programs to serve that clientele in the context of the changing marketplace," said Behring.

The change is dramatic. Penn State Assistant Professor of International Agriculture Dr. Anatoliy Tmanov explains that under the Soviet model, 95 percent of farms were large and collective, with roughly 10,000 acres each. Since the privatization in 1991, collective farms no longer exist, and farms range from under two acres to 4,000 acres. To be successful, Ukrainian farmers need to become more independent decision makers and more entrepreneurial in servicing
market needs.

Penn State works with experts at the Ukraine's L'viv State Agricultural University. Stacie Bird, Information and Communications Technologies, College of Agricultural Sciences

Penn State faculty and Cooperative Extension educators are working to train key individuals in the Ukraine who will then be able to share the knowledge with the larger agricultural community. "We offer approximately three to four seminars a year and have reached over 400 people so far," said Tmanov.

"The face of agriculture is changing. ... It's more multicultural, and there are agriculture diseases and issues of food safety and security that don't know any borders," said Behring. "For our faculty and programs to stay at the center of excellence, we need to continue to reach out to make connections on a global basis."

The College of Agricultural Sciences, with the help of Drs. Louis Moore and Jim Dunn, also has taken part in the USDA Cochran Fellowship Program, bringing agriculture and agribusiness representatives from the newly independent states of the former Soviet Union to the United States for short-term training.

U.S. Job Retention
For Dr. Chris Benner, Penn State assistant professor of geography, labor studies and industrial relations, global connections are carried along fiber optic cables--from the Kansas caller with a credit card question to the call center in Korea. Benner is a part of an international Global Call Center Study involving researchers at several universities, 19 countries and approximately 600,000 call center employees.

"We're trying to understand how information technology is shaping the work environment, as well as why companies are relocating call center jobs to countries like South Africa, India or Ireland," he said. "Often companies tend to underestimate the cost of operating overseas. Additional executive travel, poor infrastructure and supplementary costs can be significant--the cost/benefits have been somewhat exaggerated in the media."

Benner is using this global research to help support a project designed to promote economic growth in Pittsburgh. "We're trying to link workforce development with economic development--two areas that have historically been distinct," he said. "Our approach looks at the skill needs of employers and develops workforce training programs to address these needs."

For example, Benner and colleagues are focusing on financial services, a growing sector in Pittsburgh. Benner said that their research is helping to support strategies for providing effective training for call center workers in Pennsylvania. "These workers gain valuable skills--they work in an office environment, learn computer skills and gain knowledge that can be transferred to other industries, as well."

A global call center study is helping to support strategies for training local employees.

Competitiveness at Home
Helping Pennsylvania companies improve their competitiveness as well as their long-term economic viability has been the cornerstone of one of Penn State's most successful programs--the Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program (PENNTAP). At a time when outsourcing, factory closings and cutbacks are making the front page, PENNTAP is at the forefront of job assistance. In 2003 alone, clients reported 900 jobs (created or saved) and $25 million in economic benefits as a result of PENNTAP technical assistance.

"PENNTAP services the entire state of Pennsylvania through a network of specialists who have specific areas of technical expertise," said Jack Gido, director of PENNTAP. "The program focuses on helping smaller firms that normally do not have the in-house expertise or resources to resolve specific technology questions or needs. PENNTAP technical specialists assist these companies by providing technical advice, technical information and connections to other expertise, resources or programs."

For example, PENNTAP technical specialists conducted a pollution prevention/energy efficiency site assessment for the Pittsburgh Brewing Co. Their recommendations add up to an estimated annual savings of $150,000 and more than 15 million gallons of water--a success recognized by Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen McGinty.

Although PENNTAP focuses on businesses in Pennsylvania, its impact is worldwide. The program now offers an e-Business Technical Assistance Program to help clients enhance their Web sites and to reach expanding global markets.

Sudhi Kamath, president of Systematic Filing Products in Danville, Pa., praised PENNTAP, saying, "The technical specialist has been a great help and enthusiastic in helping a small business to succeed. His advice and help have not only saved us money, but also developed new markets for us."

Such programs are just a few of the hundreds initiated throughout the colleges at Penn State. The common goal of protecting industries and quality of life in Pennsylvania has taken faculty and students to the smallest local towns and to international villages. As Behring sees it, it's all part of building the same barn.