GRADUATES MIGRATORY PROFILE OF THE AGRONOMY COURSE OF UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DE SANTA MARIA, CAMPUS FREDERICO WESTPHALEN, AS AN INFORMATION TOOL TO INSTITUTIONAL EVALUATION AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

This paper is aimed at gathering information about professional migration of Agronomy graduates of the UFSM-FW as a support tool for institutional evaluation and regional development. To meet this aim, the data survey was made by an online structured questionnaire through "Google Forms" platform and by e-mail, given that the communication with the graduates was over the social media "Facebook". From the 243 graduated students between 2011 and 2015, 229 have been contacted and the return rate was 72,43% (176 answers). Main results showed that most of the interviewees’ professional journey is related to the Northwest mesoregion of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, where 88,07% of the respondents come from and 53,41% of them work nowadays. Furthermore, the interests in the agronomic area along with the University campus’ geographic location are the main reasons why the graduates chose agronomy as an option for higher education degree. However, the major reasons that led to the selection of their workplaces are the identification with the specific job area and the monthly remuneration. Based on the results, the University and the region have access to a larger knowledge about agronomy professionals, so that this information may serve as a support tool in the decision-making for improvements in the course and for pedagogical changes as well as in the region development through the insertion of the agronomist.