Many Farmers Take Over as Adults
Many new farm owners do not take over the family farm until they have spent years working in other professions. The educational program Adult Agronomist Education is a one-year, part-time agricultural training program designed for this group. In 2018, a variety of local versions of this education offered by agricultural schools across Norway were consolidated under a national model for adult agronomist education. The Adult Agronomist Education then became a county-level offering under the Education Act.
Evaluation of the National Model
SINTEF Technology Management’s research group on Regional Sustainability and Bioeconomy evaluated Adult Agronomist Education during the period 2018–2024, focusing on target group, curriculum content, organization, and formal versus informal final competence among students. The assignment also included an analysis of how educational needs for new farmers and relief workers can best be met, in relation to possible changes in agronomist education in upper secondary schools.
Research Questions
- What experiences have participants (adult students), actors in the agricultural sector, and representatives of the provider schools had with the adult agronomist education during the period 2018–2024?
- What role and position can Adult Agronomist Education have in the future agricultural education system, with regard to educating as many agronomists as possible with the most industry-relevant competence?
Data Sources
The evaluation used information from schools’ online offerings, interviews with those responsible for Adult Agronomist Education at provider schools, and survey data on students’ experiences with the program. A broadly composed reference group of stakeholders around the education was consulted several times during the project.
Header photo: Haugset/SINTEF
