Improvement of employability in agricultural companies through mentorship-based practical training

The Faculty of Agriculture at Goce Delcev University – Stip has successfully implemented a mentorship-based student practical training program in collaboration with agricultural companies. This initiative, supported by Palladium International LLC Skopje - Increasing Market Employability (IME) initiative and E4E@mk, aimed to strengthen the link between academia and agribusiness by providing practical training for students. Key activities included tailored training sessions for mentors, organization of several "Meet Your Potential Employer" events, and facilitation of practical learning experiences for the students in agricultural companies. Through active partnership between the Faculty of Agriculture and 10 agricultural companies, 14 students were sent for an internship. A total of 16 mentors from both the university and agri-companies were trained and certified for mentors in practical training of students, thus ensuring high-quality mentorship experience. Students benefited from practical learning opportunities and direct engagement with potential employers. Remarkably, some students secured full-time employment following their internships. However, challenges remain, including the need for policy reforms to institutionalize internship programs, motivation for companies to participate, and a structured approach to train future mentors in companies. This initiative highlights the necessity of embedding mentorship-based internships in agricultural higher education to bridge the skills gap between theoretical knowledge and demands of the labor market. Future efforts should focus on expanding collaboration between faculties and companies, continuous training of mentors and policy development to ensure longterm development of agriculture as sector.