Alberta’s Lakeland College has revamped its agribusiness program to more accurately reflect changing opportunities.
Beginning this year, students who complete a common first semester in the agribusiness program will choose between one of five areas of specialization.
Students can now specialize in production, marketing, agri-food and tourism, sustainability or finance. Previously, the agribusiness program only offered three specialized streams — livestock, crops or marketing.
“The world of agribusiness is constantly changing with many new and exciting opportunities presenting themselves,” said Geoff Brown, dean of the School of Agricultural Sciences.
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“We are always working with our advisory boards to ensure that our curriculum and programs are providing our students with the latest education, one which sets them up for success in whichever sector they enter after graduating from Lakeland.”
Brown said the new agribusiness program will continue to challenge traditional students who have a solid agricultural background but will also appeal to students who hadn’t considered a career in agriculture.
“The new agribusiness streams go beyond primarily production, highlighting career opportunities across the agriculture supply chain,” he said.
Students in the production stream will expand their agribusiness knowledge in crop, livestock or mixed farm production.
Marketing students will gain experience in product, price, placement and promotion.
The agri-food and tourism stream will allow students to develop business ideas using agricultural products in innovative ways.
Sustainability students will focus on managing economic, social and environmental pillars to leverage long-term success.
And the finance stream will offer an increased focus on business and financial management.
New opportunities for experiential learning will build on the existing hands-on opportunities, including event management, farm management simulations, case competitions, industry practicums, and data-driven projects integrated with the college’s student-managed farm.
Agribusiness graduates will have the opportunity to study another year at Lakeland to earn a second diploma or they can enroll in Lakeland’s agriculture technology degree, the first of its kind in Canada.
Agribusiness graduates can also transfer to another post-secondary institute to complete degree programs elsewhere.
To learn more about the program, visit lakelandcollege.ca/agribusiness.
