The origin of extension

• The use of word “extension’ derives from an educational development in England during 1850 in two ancient universities of Oxford and Cambridge about how they could serve educational needs near to their homes of the rapidly growing population in the industrial urban area.
• Lord Henry advocate for formal education founded agriculture society for the diffusion of useful knowledge in 1826 established with the objectives imparting useful information to all classes of the community.
• First practical attempt was started in 1867 as university extension. Initially most of the lectures given were on literacy and social topics but by the last decades of Nineteenth century agriculture subject were being covered.
• The growth and success of this work in England influenced the initiation similar activities anywhere in the world especially in USA.
• Use of term “extension” continued and has persisted as the designation for the work.
• In USA many states out of college lecturer were become established during last decades of the nineteenth century the extramural work of the “Land Grant College” concerned with serving the needs of farm families expand dramatically and become formally organized.