A Demand Survey on the Priority of Agricultural College Students’ Core Competencies Required by Agriculturel Companies: A case study on G University

Abstract

Background and objective As the agricultural industry becomes a more convergent industry, it is believed that the demand for human resources by companies will change. Therefore, a survey was conducted to investigate the human resources required by agriculture companies. Methods In the survey on 77 agriculture companies, 98.7% of respondents answered that new employees with a college degree needed additional training to adapt to practical affairs. Results The first priority of education was “community spirit” (22.1%) and the second priority was “convergence capability” (15.6%). The most important educational goal desired by agricultural companies was “cultivating human resources with community spirit and ethical judgment”, followed by “cultivating human resources with serious communication and problem-solving skills”, and “cultivating human resources with scientific thinking and unique creative imagination.” Sub-competencies that companies want agricultural colleges to strengthen were “community spirit” 4.32(SD=0.96), “desirable values” 4.30 (SD = 1.05), “sympathy” 4.28 (SD = 0.95), “convergence capability” 4.16 (SD = 0.88), “creativity” 4.11 (SD = 0.83), “civic spirit” 4.10 (SD = 0.91), and “rational/critical thinking” 3.94 (SD = 1.04). There was a significant difference in sub-competencies that require reinforcement depending on the number of full-time employees. “Creativity” was most necessary in companies with less than 3 employees (4.39), and 4~7 employees (4.33), and “aesthetics”“ in companies with less than 3 employees (3.94), and 4–7 employees (3.61) “Civic spirit” was most necessary in companies with 31 employees or more (4.33). Conclusion The most important educational goal desired by companies was “cultivating human resources with community spirit and ethical judgment”.