The Agribusiness Study Program (Prodi) at the Faculty of Science and Technology (FST) UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta proves that the modern agricultural sector now requires a far broader approach than just farming. Through an integrated curriculum, this study program combines basic agricultural science with management, economics, and business strategies to produce graduates ready to manage the food industry sustainably.
Daniya Kautsarainani, an Agribusiness student from the class of 2023, shared her experience regarding the shift in public perception of this major. While the general public often associates agribusiness solely with hoeing in the fields, in reality, students are educated to understand the entire agricultural commodity supply chain, from the upstream production phase to the downstream product marketing aspects.
The curriculum of this study program is comprehensively designed with a significant portion of economics and business courses. Daniya revealed that the presence of the Accounting course was one of the biggest surprises for her. This experience made students realize that the success of a farming business highly depends on sound and systematic financial management, not just the quantity of the harvest in the field.
In addition to classroom theory, students are equipped with practical experience through routine field observations every semester and field trips. They are required to interact directly with business actors, ranging from farmers and livestock breeders to traders. This active learning method indirectly sharpens public communication skills and students' adaptability in society.
A significant academic challenge was felt by students when taking the Farming Business (Usaha Tani) course. This lecture requires them to conduct independent research, process agricultural economic data, and defend their results in formal presentations. Although demanding, this academic and practical preparation opens up vast career prospects, ranging from the food industry, banking, and government institutions to independent entrepreneurship.
