Exploring the Process of Designing an Effective Post-Secondary Curriculum in Preparing Agricultural Education Graduates for the Nigerian Workforce

The problem of the ineffective curriculum has been identified as one of the major challenges facing the field of Agricultural Education in Africa. Moreover, Nigerian institutions have not adopted the multidisciplinary approach to curriculum, which accommodates various skill wanted in the industry such as information, communication, and entrepreneurial skills. Also, the number of corporate jobs available pales in comparison to the number of graduates applying for such jobs, as opposed to Western countries where there is an abundance of corporate jobs. This challenge, therefore, necessitates a change of approach. However, to propose a change of curriculum, there is a need to conduct empirical research that explores the current curriculum used in higher education, and its effectiveness for preparing graduates for the workforce. The purpose of this study was to explore the process of designing the current curriculum of all the courses that are being taught by professors in the Department of Agricultural Administration at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta in Nigeria; and determine whether the curriculum aligns with the needs of the industry. The theoretical framework guiding this study is the program planning theory. This study used a phenomenological inquiry into the professors conscientious meaning experience and that of the alumni in the department. A purposive sampling method to select participants since the study relied on individuals who are close to the phenomenon. The sample comprised of nine participants (N=9), which include four professors and five alumni. Data was collected using a standardized open-ended questionnaire. Results indicated four themes from the data analysis: 1) Background information about the department; 2) Professors' role in the development of the curriculum; 3) Process involved in designing the curriculum, and 4) Considerations for designing the curriculum. The result of this study enabled us to make recommendations to help improve the department's curriculum.