Zmiany w strukturze wykształcenia kierowników gospodarstw rolnych w województwie wielkopolskim w latach 2010–2020
Changes in the education structure of farm managers in Wielkopolska Province in 2010–2020

Summary/Abstract: The aim of the article is to analyze the level and type of education of farm managers in Wielkopolska Province, related changes and spatial differences. The paper deals with the following research questions: Does general or agricultural education prevail among farm managers? Is the rate of change in the level of farm managers’ agricultural education faster than the level of general education? Is there a relationship between the level of agricultural education of farm managers and natural conditions and non-natural factors? The research was conducted at the province level and by county, on the basis of published and unpublished materials made available by Statistics Poland. Owing to the availability of educational data, the study was carried out among those in charge of agricultural holdings. Use was made of aggregated data by residence of a farm user. The analysis covers the years 2010 and 2020, in which agricultural censuses were conducted and from which the most complete data on the level of education of the agricultural population are drawn. The study adopted indicator, relationship analysis and cartographic methods. The study has shown that not only does a higher percentage of farm managers have general education, but there was also an increase in their share between 2010 and 2020. The opposite trend has been noted for agricultural education, but its structure has improved. The trends observed on a provincial scale are spatially different. What was observed was the influence of natural conditions on spatial differences in the level of farm managers’ education. In contrast to the areas with unfavorable natural conditions, the areas with favorable ones are characterized by a significantly higher level of general and agricultural education of farm managers and a decrease in the share of those who have completed an agricultural course. Furthermore, a higher level of general and agricultural education of farm managers and a higher increase in the proportion of managers with higher agricultural and secondary agricultural education was recorded in the lands of the former Prussian partition. Significant disparities were found when evaluating spatial conditions. The land counties were characterized by a high share of farm managers with agricultural education, a much smaller decrease in it during the decade under study, and a marked increase in the number of those with secondary education. The results of the study may be useful in delineating rural development strategies at province and county levels.

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