FROM AGRICULTURAL TO AGRO-BUSINESS EDUCATION AIMED AT DEVELOPMENT OF RURAL AREAS

摘要

The paper presents an evaluation of the curricula of postgraduate studies in the field of management, directed first of all at people with higher technical education whose professional activity is connected with management in a widely understood sphere of agro-business. The evaluation was made by graduates of one-year postgraduate studies (six editions), organized in the years 1993-1999, and two-year master's studies (three editions) in the field of management and marketing in rural areas. The paperalso discusses changes in the educational offer of Polish universities, especially agricultural universities, observed after the year 1989. The investigations concerned all graduates of both kinds of studies and were conducted by the method of a mail survey (over 30% of the questionnaires sent out to our respondents were filled in and sent back). The research results show that postgraduate studies are taken up by young persons whose professional activity is related to management in the private or publicsector. The main reason for taking up such studies is to gain the necessary competence and qualifications in the sphere of management. According to graduates, the most useful skills acquired during studies are those in marketing and financial management, business communication and negotiations. They allowed them to achieve success (to get promotion to a higher position or keep the present one, to establish a business) and gain personal benefits (a much higher income).