Farming for the future

An ESF-funded project in Croatia helps to prepare students for the demands of the modern agricultural industry.
Agriculture plays an important role in the EU’s economy and as with many industries, technological advancements and changing consumer demands are having an impact on the sector. In order to assess the current needs of the agricultural market in Croatia and ensure that available education programmes match those needs, an ESF-backed project was launched in 2015.
The project was led by the Faculty of Agriculture in Osijek, with partners including the Faculty of Agriculture in Zagreb. It led to the development of occupation- and qualification-based standards for agricultural undergraduates, as well as clear learning outcomes to help them succeed in the industry after graduation. In Zagreb, existing undergraduate study programmes were improved and Osijek saw the development of a brand new programme designed to meet the industry’s needs.
Students, teachers and employers all benefited from the project. Students received tailored teaching that set them up for a career in the agricultural industry, teachers gained a great understanding of the industry’s current and future needs, and employers welcomed potential employees that had the skills they were looking for. On a larger scale, the project also played a role in strengthening the agricultural sector in Croatia going forward.
Want to find out more? Check out the links below:
About the project
Better education (ESF website)