Agricultural Economics

Agricultural Economics is a specialization within the discipline of agricultural sciences, which studies the area of economics of agricultural production, industry of agricultural inputs and food industry, services in rural areas and agricultural and rural policy. The study of Agricultural Economics trains experts for the work on agricultural farms and cooperatives, extension services, and other public services.

During the first year of studies, students gain basic knowledge of chemistry and biochemistry, agricultural botany, agricultural zoology, agriculture, phytomedicine, farming, and animal husbandry according to the study program requirements. They gain introductory knowledge of business mathematics, macro- and microeconomics, and develop skills of analysis, elaboration and presentation of data.

During the second year of studies, students gain basic knowledge of agricultural machinery, technologies, domestic animal breeding, costs and calculations, management, entrepreneurship, market and marketing, co-operation and business connections in agriculture and basics of agricultural and rural policies. They develop research work, application of simple scientific methods for elaboration of data and communication skills.

During the third year of studies, students receive credits by choosing among thirty-three elective modules from natural, technical, economic and agro-economic disciplines, and by writing and publicly defending a professional research project and their final thesis. During their studies, students also have an obligation to accumulate 320 hours of practical work, which confirms their skills in practical business situations.

Bachelors in engineering of Agricultural Economics acquire the following competencies:

a) Knowledge and understanding

• Basic principles and concepts of agriculture, economy and sociology, agricultural economics, macroeconomics and microeconomics in agriculture.
• The role of agriculture and rural areas in the economy, the role of producers, institutions and services in agriculture, their position in society and the influence of international policies.
• Social, ethical, business and legal context of agricultural economics.

b) Analysis

• Ability to recognize, identify and solve problems in the area of agricultural economics.
• Ability to analyze social phenomena, products, processes and methods in agriculture and rural areas.
• Ability to select analytic methods and procedures in finding practical solutions.

c) Application of practical knowledge

• Understanding of methodology and ability to implement projects according to production and administrative practice demands.
• Establishment and maintaining of social contacts in agricultural production, services, consultation and education, agricultural and rural policies and interest group representation.

d) Research

• Ability to search literature, data bases and other sources of information.
• Ability to create and conduct tests, surveys and interviews in agro-economic research.
• Ability to present and interpret research results, formulate conclusions and recommendations.

e) Engineering practice

• Selection and application of methods and information technology in problem analysis.
• Ability to apply theoretical knowledge in practice.

f) Complementary skills

• Competences in individual and team work, communication with other professionals in the area, communication with similar professions and the society in general.
• Awareness of legal issues, production, market and political standards and responsibilities in the area of expertise.
• Gathering information about business practices and readiness for life-long education.

The bearer of this qualification is authorized to use the legally protected university degree of Bachelor (baccalaureus) in Engineering of Agricultural Economics and perform professional tasks in the area of qualification. The study covers the basic knowledge of agriculture, economy, sociology, and biotechnical sciences. The acquired professional and methodological knowledge at the undergraduate level is linked with the ability to establish and maintain social contacts, which enables Bachelors to successfully perform tasks of economic analysis of medium complexity, and management in the areas of agricultural production, processing and distribution of agricultural products, trade, services, consultation, education, interest groups representation and agricultural and rural policies.

Depending on the choice of elective modules, students are trained for immediate employment or continuation of their studies. After the completion of undergraduate studies of Agricultural Economics, Bachelors can continue to the graduate studies of Agribusiness and rural development, whereby the student is directly awarded with the maximum number of credits for enrolment. Depending on the choice of elective modules, student can also enrol into other graduate studies at the Faculty of Agriculture and similar studies in Croatia and abroad, taking into account specific regulations for enrolment of the particular study program.