Undergraduate Study
Agricultural Economics
Study Programme Coordinator: Assoc. Prof. Ornella Mikuš, PhD
Agricultural Economics is a specialisation 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.
Description
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 programme 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.
The bearer of this qualification is authorised 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 completing undergraduate studies in Agricultural Economics, Bachelor's students can continue to graduate studies in Agribusiness and Rural Development, where they will receive the maximum number of credits for enrolment. Depending on their choice of elective modules, students can also enrol in other graduate studies at the Faculty of Agriculture or similar studies in the UK and abroad, while adhering to the specific regulations for enrolment in each study programme.
Objective
The objective of the Agricultural Economics study programme is to provide students with state-of-the-art knowledge from a multidisciplinary field which integrates topics from agriculture and economics. Within the aforementioned programme, sub-objectives are to introduce students to the role of agriculture and the food industry within economic development, to develop students' affinity towards rural entrepreneurship and encourage them to critically evaluate measures of agricultural and rural policy. Emphasising practical skills provides opportunities for the application of management and marketing knowledge in starting and running their own business, as well as employment prospects in local government and self-government bodies in the field of agriculture and rural development.
Learning outcomes
- Describe peculiarities of agriculture as a primary and biological activity and business
- Identify elements of business success in agriculture and food-processing, as well as elements that determine the economic role of agriculture in the national economy
- Recognise biological and economic laws in agricultural production and in the decision-making process on agricultural and rural development at micro- and macroeconomic levels
- Select, apply and interpret indicators of farm business success (family farms, crafts, co-operatives, companies) using standard mathematical, statistical, and economic analysis methods
- Describe and explain models of production, supply and demand of agricultural and food products on national and international markets
- Prepare and present a professional report, study and/or project draft in the field of agricultural and rural development, according to the basic standards of the Common Agricultural Policy of the EU
- Propose methods of micro- and macroeconomic decision making in agriculture in different agro-ecological and agro-economic circumstances
- Organise field research in the scope of agriculture and rural development
- Conduct an expert project in the scope of agriculture and rural development and/or participate in the project
- Start and independently conduct business in agriculture
- Achieve the level of knowledge and skills to continue education in the field of agronomy and related sciences.