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Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development (AJAD) - Call for papers!

Perceptions of BSAB Graduates on the Relevance and Development of the UPLB Agribusiness Management Curricular Program

(Philippines), Master of Management in Agribusiness Management (University of the Philippines Los Baños)

Field Study Abstract:

The relevance and development of the UPLB Bachelors' Degree Program in Agribusiness Management were analyzed on the basis of the perception of the Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Business (BSAB) graduates.

Questionnaires were sent to 125 BSAB graduates who constituted 30 percent of the population from 1972 to 1984. The response rate was 30 percent.

General education/basic courses were perceived to be not so relevant to their present job. Nevertheless, all core courses or management courses were rated as relevant to very relevant.

Courses on the Principles of Government and Politics and Fundamentals of Chemistry were recommended for inclusion as required subjects in the curriculum by 60 percent of the respondents. The respondents also recommended a more relevant content for these subjects.

Other subjects recommended to be required were General Fisheries, Project Development and Management, Personnel Management, Business Writing and Communication, and Public Policies and Programs. Subjects that could be considered either as required or as elective courses were Fundamentals of Aquaculture, Principle of Food Processing, Managerial Economics, Investment Management, and Business Taxation.

An equal number of respondents recommended the basic courses in Organic Chemistry and Microbiology for either deletion or consideration as elective subjects.

Courses on forestry and fish capture were recommended only for consideration as electives.

Essentially, the respondents considered apprenticeship or farm practice and special problem or thesis beneficial. Students should be allowed to have an option depending on their interest and study objectives, The majority of the respondents, especially graduates in recent years, considered the technical courses they have taken in agriculture to be insufficient. Sixty percent of the respondents recommended that the BSAB curriculum should be five years to make it more comprehensive and stronger.