Transiting From School to Work: A Tracer Survey of Graduates of Agricultural Economics Department, University of Nigeria Nsukka

One key way higher education institutions can fully understand the workplace needs of their graduates so as to replan their curriculum is through tracer studies of their previous graduates. Yet in Nigeria, few studies of this nature have been conducted although evidence suggest that such surveys have positively influenced educational policy and curriculum where they have been conducted worldwide. This paper is from a survey of graduates of Agricultural Economics in a Nigerian University. It examined the relevance and application of some agricultural economics programme to the market place needs of the graduates. The graduates of the department from 1990 in both B.Sc. and M. Sc. formed the sample frame. Data was collected through face to face interviews, and emails. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage and mean. The respondent’s perception of the technical skills acquired showed that for analytical skills, the mean score was 2.50 in a 4 point rating scale, while budgeting, planning and organizing were rated 2.34; 2.41 and 2,31 respectively. Leadership skills like team building, communication, leadership and networking had mean scores of 2.24; 2.45; 2.07 and 2.15 respectively. It is recommended that such a study should be conducted in a larger scale in the faculty of Agriculture and that there is need for a review of curriculum.