The purpose of this study was to obtain and in-depth analysis of the lived experiences of undergraduate students in agricultural programs in two universities in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Specifically, this study explored the factors that influenced student satisfaction from the perspectives of alumni, faculty, and students. The objectives were to (1) describe the lived experience of undergraduate students from agricultural programs in Haiti and the factors that influenced their satisfaction, (2) identify the perceptions of faculty teaching in agricultural programs in Haiti of student satisfaction, and (3) describe the undergraduate experience of alumni from agricultural programs in Haiti and the factors that influenced their satisfaction. This study used a phenomenology qualitative research design to capture the essence of the participants’ experiences. The horizonalization process was used to review transcripts from in-depth interviews and then thematic analysis were used to create clusters of meaning. The results indicated that the undergraduate experience of students was academically dense, outdated, stressful, and lacked in student life. While students reported to have a strong grasp on theory, participants shared that they did not have enough field experience. Individual, institutional, and external factors influenced student satisfaction. The findings suggest that the findings suggest that cultural factors in the higher education system are one barrier to improving student experience and that by making simple, low cost changes such as course load limits, new student orientation, and alumni tracking and support, student life and the higher education experience in Haiti could be greatly improved.
Open Source Archives
We strive to facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration and the implementation of progressive and participatory research methods, with the goal of generating tangible, durable changes in the way research about Haiti is conceptualized, implemented and applied.
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Research Hub & Open Source Archives
EKO HAITI Research Hub is a research and knowledge mobilization platform focused on creative, collaborative and interdisciplinary research and associated research-based learning. We aim to become the intellectual “home” for research about Haiti by creating and providing open access to the largest crowdsourced research archive dedicated to Haiti, by fostering cross-disciplinary research and innovation, and by providing support for progressive research in the form of contextual expertise and training.
“The trees fall from time to time, but the voice of the forest never loses its power. Life begins.”
Jacques Alexis, Les Arbres Musiciens (Paris, 1957)
ORAL HISTORIES
Oral histories are a powerful tool in developing historical understanding
Oral history offers an alternative to conventional history, filling gaps in traditional research with personal accounts of historically significant events or simply life in a specific place and time. Oral histories do more than provide charming details to dry historical accounts. In fact, oral histories help others recapture lived experiences that are not written down in traditional sources.
> Transcripts archive
" Bwa pi wo di li wè lwen, men grenn pwomennen di li wè pi lwen pase l "
The tallest tree says that it sees far, but the seed that travels says that it sees even further.
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As an independent institute, we rely on crowdsourcing and donations to continue expanding the depth and scope of our archives. Your contribution enable us to provide open access to a vast collection of ethnographic and research material which in turn aims at fostering further research and contribute to a better understanding of the country.
