Graduate Students' Knowledge Levels on Climate Change in the Departments of Agricultural Economics in Turkey

Abstract

Having knowledge of Climate Change (CC) and its impacts on agriculture is essential for survival of the world and fulfilling the growing demand for food. Therefore, university graduates as future agricultural experts should have sufficient knowledge on CC and its impacts on agriculture. This study aimed to determine CC Knowledge Levels (CCKL) of candidate graduates and to examine the factors influencing their knowledge levels. The data were collected via a face-to-face survey with 506 students in 16 agricultural economics departments in Turkey. CCKL were determined through a five-point Likert scale statements and using ordered probit model to analyze the factors affecting CCKL. The results of the study revealed that 64.42% of candidate graduate students had high CCKL, whereas 33.2 and 2.37% of them had moderate and low levels. Probit model results showed that the variables of gender, acquiring CC knowledge from university, and number of sufficient academic staffs had statistically positive effects on CCKL of candidate graduates. The research mainly concluded that not all students could achieve sufficient knowledge on climate change from their undergraduate programs. The departments of agricultural economics should include more compulsory courses on CC in their undergraduate program curriculums and employ academic staff with specialization on CC in order to increase the students' CCKL.