NPR - PREPARING GRADUATE STUDENTS FOR FUTURE WORKFORCE IN AGRICULTURE THROUGH INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCES

Abstract

 Internships have become an increasingly important and inseparable part of many educational degree programs. A good example is the Master of International Agricultural degree Program (MIAP) at Oklahoma State University. The completion of a meaningful hands-on international experience is a critical and required component of the MIAP degree. Understanding the impact of the international experience/internship on enhancing the students’ academic and social learning is important in designing a curriculum that well-prepares students for the future workforce needs. Hence, the objective of this study is to measure the impact of the international experience component of the degree on students’ preparation for their future career. This study analyzes primary data collected through an online survey instrument. The survey was sent to 120 MIAP Alums and Students. Forty-five usable responses were received, producing a 37% response rate. The results show that the international experience had a positive and significant impact on students’ personal, interpersonal (social), academic, employment preparation (job specific), and civil effect.

Keywords: international experiences, MIAP, effectiveness, future workforce