Abstract 

Most agricultural economics departments offer a plethora of so-called “high-impact learning activities,” in-class and out-of-class experiences that make students’ education more meaningful. While these practices are resource-intensive and require great effort from students, they also help them develop the skills necessary to compete in tomorrow’s workforce. From a survey of and conversations with employers, we identify skills sought by employers. We combine this with a survey of current undergraduate students and undergraduate alumni from the Food and Resource Economics program at the University of Florida to examine students’ perceptions of these critical skills and the effectiveness of high-impact learning activities for the development of these skills. The analysis indicates that critical thinking, oral communication skills and time management are top priorities for employers and seen as most important by undergraduate alumni. Participation in innovative classroom activities and two industry-oriented undergraduate clubs are perceived as the most effective activities to develop these skills.