Employer Perspectives on Arboriculture Education    (View PDF)

E. Gregory McPherson

Abstract: A questionnaire was sent to employers or arborists and urban foresters in the Mountain West Region to determine their perspective as to the level of training and specific skills that should be taught to students of arboriculture and urban forestry. Skills employers frequently found lacking were also assessed. Results of the survey indicate that arborists and urban foresters should receive a minimum of two years and four years of academic training, respectively. Both groups should receive over six months of field experience. Skills deemed most important for arborists are basic tree-care skills, although private and public sector employers differ as to the relative importance of some skills. Respondents report that urban foresters frequently lack public relations and manage­ment related skills. These and other findings may especially benefit individuals involved with the development and evaluation of educational training programs in arboriculture and urban forestry.

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https://doi.org/10.48044/jauf.1984.026