Extensionist competencies index: a tool for the development of extensionist capacities?

Identifying the basic competencies that a professional should possess to fulfill his or her role as an extensionist is important, since it favors the connection with the communities being accompanied. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the level of perception of the development of competencies of the extensionists, by means of an instrument designed by the authors, on a scale from one (critical situation) to five (optimal situation) using a rubric defined for each competency. The extensionist competencies index (ICE) for Antioquia was 4.1 and for Santander 3.8, which showed the potential and options for improvement to focus efforts on updating and training extensionists, which in the cases analyzed were focused on conflict resolution, information management, the ICT implementation in accompaniment processes, and alignment with the sector’s own regulations and policies.