Analysis of Ege University Faculty of Agriculture Students' Attitudes Towards Working in the Agricultural Field
Conference paper > Full Text · 2024
Authors: Tumaris Urazbayeva, Shakhsanam Kenzhiyeva, Duran GÜLER, Gamze SANER
XXII. Internaonal Balkan and Near Eastern Congress Series on Economics, Business and Management, Macedonia, Ohrid, International, Verbal, Full Text, 2024-2024, vol 1, pp 559-565
Summary
<p>The agriculture sector holds critical economic and social importance. The involvement of graduates from Faculties of Agriculture in the agriculture sector is crucial for the development and sustainability of this sector. However, personal, social, and economic factors can influence these graduates' willingness to work in the agricultural field. This study aims to analyze the attitudes of Faculty of Agriculture students regarding their willingness to work in agriculture. A face-to-face survey was conducted with 157 students from Ege University Faculty of Agriculture. The data obtained were statistically tested to assess the students' attitudes toward working in agriculture. According to the results, 65.60% of the students wish to work in agriculture after graduation, 19.11% are undecided, and 15.29% do not wish to work in this field. Among the factors influencing students' willingness to work in agriculture, ‘a strong interest in agriculture’ and ‘having a family involved in agriculture’ are prominent. For students who do not wish to work in agriculture, ‘lack of sufficient capital’ and ‘limited social life in agriculture’ are the most significant factors affecting their reluctance. When asked about their views on the future of the agriculture sector, students who wish to work in agriculture are more likely to express positive opinions about the sector’s future compared to other students. Additionally, these students with a positive outlook on the future of agriculture are found to follow agricultural news more frequently than their peers. It is recommended that, in developing policies to encourage the participation of young agricultural engineers in the workforce, support for capital and efforts to improve social life in rural areas should also be considered. </p><p>Keywords: Students of the Faculty of Agriculture, Willingness to Work, Agriculture Sector, Ege University </p>