2015 Volume 18 Pages 13-23
Through a questionnaire survey and interviews, this study proposed to investigate the influence of agricultural internships. The investigation was conducted on agricultural careers of an agricultural system university’s students belonging to a nonfarmhouse background.
Specifically, understanding of agriculture in general, acquiring abilities and skills, and a change in choice of courses are examined prior to obtaining an agricultural internship, and thereafter, the value of the internship training is examined. This was shared with agricultural high school graduates and other graduates, and it was compared through an analysis. The results showed that agricultural interns better understood agriculture as work, as an occupation, and as an environment, they also improved necessary abilities and skills through practical work. The internship provides an opportunity to consider in which field of agriculture a student plans to work.
Educational experience at an agricultural high school is put into practice with an agricultural internship, and there is also a case wherein students are allowed to decide whether they wish to pursue the career of a farmer.
Clearly, an agricultural internship can play an important role in the choice of an agricultural career of an agricultural high school graduate. An internship also functions as a transitional process for a farmer, thus becoming a bearer of agricultural human resources.
Overall, an important role is played by the choice of an agricultural career for an agricultural high school student, and an agricultural internship plays an important role in the choice of agricultural careers for agricultural high school graduates. Finally, an internship becomes a transitional process for a farmer, fostering agricultural leaders as human resources.
