Dr. Samdrup

Dr. Samdrup Rigyal, Pro Vice Chancellor

Deparment of Planning and Resources

Samdrup Rigyal, joined the civil service in 1990 having worked in the Ministry of Agriculture until 2000. Since then, he taught agricultural extension and communication at the College of Natural Resources, Lobesa, and worked at the SAARC Agriculture Centre, Dhaka, Bangladesh, from 2003 until 2007.

He joined the Office of the Vice Chancellor, Royal University of Bhutan, Thimphu, in 2012.
Contact Number : +975 2 336454


Research and Publications:

Sl. No. Author/s & Titles
1. Pain, A., Latham, A. & Rigyal, S. (1993). The development and dissemination of appropriate extension material: preliminary result from a four-district survey. MoA Report submittedand presented at the RNR Seminar at the Banquet Hall, 1993.
2. Rigyal, S. (1996). The Role of Astrology in the Local Practices of Bhutanese Farming. Paper presented at the National Library Symposium for National Heritage in Thimphu by Lyonpo Kinzang Dorji,1997. Published in the Proceedings of National Library Symposium and NEC Periodical.
3. Rigyal, S. (1997). Diffusion of Agricultural Technology in Bhutan: An Analysis based on the use of Media and Communication in Extension. Unpublished M.Sc. Dissertation submitted to the University of Reading, United Kingdom.
4. Rigyal, S., & Gyeltshen, J. (2000). Evaluation of the feasibility of Tingtibi Outreach Renewable Natural Resources Research Centre. Consultancy Report submitted to RNR RC, Jakar, MOA.
5. Rigyal, S., Gyeltshen, J., Dorji, P., Dorji, U. (2001). Restructuring on the Delivery of Extension Services by the Ministry of Agriculture. Consultancy Report submitted to MOA.
6. Rigyal, S. (2003). Role of Information and Communication Technologies for Poverty Alleviation through Agricultural Development in SAARC Countries (Editor). ISBN 984-32-1026
7. Rigyal, S. (2003). Proceedings of the SAARC Workshop on Post-harvest Technology (Editor). ISBN 984-32-1023
8. Rigyal, S. & Akhter, N. (2003). Plant Genetic Resources of SAARC Countries: Their Conservation and Management. (Editor). 1st Edition. ISBN 984-32-1022. http://www.saarcagri.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=51&Itemid=124
9. Rigyal, S. & Akhter, N. (2006). Plant Genetic Resources of SAARC Countries: Their Conservation and Management. (Editor). 2nd Edition. ISBN 984-32-1022-0. http://www.saarcagri.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=51&Itemid=124
10. Rigyal, S. & Kumara, S. (2005). Directory of Agricultural Scientists and Technologists of SAARC Countries. 2nd Edition. (Editor). ISBN 984-32-1899-6 http://www.saarcagri.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=51&Itemid=124
11. Rigyal, S. (2006). SAARC Agricultural Information Centre: A PROFILE. ISBN 984-32-2830-8
12. Tshering, D., Rai, D. M., & Rigyal, S. (2007). Understanding the challenges facing extension agents working in RNR extension. Published by Ministry of Agriculture, RGOB. © MOA.
13. Rigyal, S. (2007). A Study on Prospects of Farmers’ Group Formation in Trong and Nangkor (Buli) Geogs under East-Central Region Agricultural Development Project. Consultancy Report submitted to ECR-ADP Office, Zhemgang. © MOA.
14. Rigyal, S. (2008). Asia-Link Project Model of Supporting ICT-based Learning: the Case of the College of Natural Resources in Bhutan. Presented at the 2008 International Joint Conference on e-CASE, Bangkok, Thailand. Published in the Proceedings of the Conference (Best Paper Award).
15. Rigyal, S. (2008). A village profile of Menchuna: A watershed for community support. Report prepared using Qualitative Approaches (PRA / RRA) and submitted to the Rural Community Support Project, College of Natural Resource (CNR).
16. Rigyal, S. (2008). Barriers in introducing ICT-supported learning in Bhutan: the case of the College of Natural Resources. Paper presented at the Workshop of EU-supported Asia-Link Project for ICT-based Teaching / Learning for Institute of Forestry, Tribhuvan University, Nepal- Wageningen International and University of Wolverhampton, UK.
17. Rigyal, S. (2009). Harnessing citizen-centric ICT potentials for development, governance and economic growth in Bhutan. Paper presented at the Poverty Reduction and Gross National Happiness (GNH) Seminar.
18. Rigyal, S. & Wongsamun, C. (2010). Perceptions of management on extension agents’ job performance and extension issues in Bhutan. Paper published in the SAARC Journal of Agriculture (SJA), Vol. 08, Issue 02, 2010. Dhaka, Bangladesh. http://www.saarcagri.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=158&Itemid=142
19. Rigyal, S. & Wongsamun, C. (2011). Perceived professional competency level and job performance of block-level extension agents in Bhutan. Paper published in Vol. 18(1), Spring 2011 of the Journal of International Agricultural Extension and Education (JIAEE), USA. http://www.aiaee.org/vol-181-spring-2011.html
20. Rigyal, S. (2011). Monitoring and evaluation system for improving the job-performance of block level extension agents in Bhutan. Unpublished PhD Thesis.
21. Rigyal, S. & Wongsamun, C. (2012). Factors affecting motivation and job-satisfaction levels of extension staff in Bhutan. Published in Vol. 08 No. 1, 1-12, of the Journal of Renewable Natural Resources, MoAF. ISBN 1608-4330
22. Rigyal, S. (2012). In-service Training: key to confidence building for job performance and competency enhancement of Geog-level extension agents in Bhutan. Published in Vol. 27 Winter 2012 of the Journal of Bhutan Studies, Centre for Bhutan Studies. ISSN 1608- 411X http://www.bhutanstudies.org.bt/category/journal-of-bhutan-studies/
23. Rigyal, S. (2012). Inclusive Innovation through Learning and Capacity Building of Extension Agents to Provide Quality Services to the Excluded Farming Population. Paper presented at the International Conference on Inclusive Innovation and Innovative Management (ICIIIM 2012) at Miracle Grand Convention Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand and published in the Conference Proceedings. ISBN: 978-974-337-2254
24. Yangdon, S. & Rigyal, S. (2013). Sustainability of the lemongrass oil industry in eastern Bhutan: challenges and opportunities. Published in Vol. 09 No. 2 of the Journal of Renewable Natural Resources, MoAF, Thimphu, Bhutan.
25. Rigyal, S. (2013). University autonomy and sustainability: faculty perceptions on the sustained growth of the Royal University of Bhutan. Published in Vol. 2 No. 2 Autumn 2013 of the Bhutan Journal of Research & Development, Royal University of Bhutan, Thimphu, Bhutan. ISSN 1321-4585
26. Rigyal, S. (2014). Business as an innovation for the sustained growth of an autonomous university. Published in 2014 UNESCO-WTA International Training Workshop Proceedings: Universities and Development of Science City / Science Parks. INNOPOLIS Foundation, Daejeon, South Korea,
27. Rigyal, S. & Prude, A. (2016). Buddhism in Contemporary Bhutan in The Oxford Handbook of Contemporary Buddhism. New York: Oxford University Press 2017; 61-76. ISBN: 9780199362387.

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