ВИЩА АГРАРНА ОСВІТА США: ТЕОРЕТИКО-МЕТОДОЛОГІЧНИЙ АСПЕКТ

Abstract

The article considers some aspects of higher agrarian education in the USA. It reviles that sustainable agriculture is the fundamental factor in the formation of a new paradigm of higher agricultural education in the United States. The US agricultural higher education is organized in six directions (agendas), i.e. agribusiness, agricultural production processes, agricultural machinery, horticulture, agricultural resources and forestry, agricultural products processing. There are tendencies for further modernization and democratization of higher agricultural American education, changes in the academic background of the educational system. Decentralization of decisions; individual training; elective subjects; considerable attention to diagnostics and forecasting; training has a proactive character; integrated plans and programs; diversification of education; distance training; systematic approach are the main characteristics of higher agrarian education in the USA. The educational programs of higher agrarian institutions are rather flexible; it increases the quality training of specialists in the agricultural sector. The undoubted advantage of American higher education is its extraordinary flexibility in terms of methods, forms and learning styles. Curriculums provide students with a basic agricultural knowledgee. Practical trainings allow students to gain experience at agricultural or industrial enterprise in the agrarian sector.