HOW TO GUIDE STUDENTS GOING TO PRACTICAL TRAINING IN AGRICULTURAL STUDIES?

During the studies in the agricultural field, a practical training on real farms or other agricultural enterprises is a key element to learn and apply things in practise. To manage their practical training, agricultural Bachelor of Natural Resources (BNR) students require plenty of guidance throughout the process. The needs of guidance for agricultural BNR students were studied during the spring 2010 in Savonia University of Applied Science, Iisalmi, Finland. According to the results, some crucial features of the whole process of guidance of the training were outlined. First of all, the whole training process should be well defined, scheduled and mentored, including financial advice. Secondly, a sufficient number of already contracted training farms, other enterprises or international exchange connections should be available and the tasks and circumstances for the training and intern should be well documented and updated. Thirdly, students need flexibility in the training process and they appreciate the alternative of international exchange as a training, so this should be actively promoted by the school personnel. Finally, to make the training a success for the student, the training farm or enterprise should be informed to give an abundant amount of guidance to the student, especially with the tasks that interns consider difficult or risky. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]