Agricultural education
KUBRA arkavazi; seyed ahmadreza Pishbin; Seyyed Yousef Hedjazi; amir alambaigi
Abstract
Attention to human capital is an undeniable necessity in order to achieve economic goals. Universities, as responsible institutions for developing and cultivating human capital needed by society, have a significant contribution to the knowledge-based economy. In this regard, universities have faced new ...
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Attention to human capital is an undeniable necessity in order to achieve economic goals. Universities, as responsible institutions for developing and cultivating human capital needed by society, have a significant contribution to the knowledge-based economy. In this regard, universities have faced new and challenging developments that leds a distinct concept called "Entrepreneurial University". Despite the importance of the agricultural sector in the country’s growth and development, no effective action has been taken in the field of Agricultural Entrepreneur University. Therefore, the current research has been taken with the aim of explaining the development mechanisms of entrepreneurial university in Iran's agricultural higher education. A quantitative-qualitative method was used to conduct this research. Statistical population of the study included all agricultural faculty members of Iran universities, 206 of them were selected using the Daniel's method in an accessible manner to collect the required data. In order to data collection, semi-structured interviews were used in the qualitative part and researcher-made questionnaires in the quantitative part. The results of entrepreneurial university dimensions’ analysis indicate the importance and role of eight dimensions including: "vision, mission, strategy", "effective management and organizational structure change", "stakeholders participation", "knowledge commercialization", "executive mechanisms", "entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial culture creation", "social and economic challenges" and "technology Requirements", in creating the foundation for development and realization of the agricultural entrepreneurial university
Agricultural education
Mohammad Sharif Sharifzadeh; Gholamhossein Abdollahzadeh; Fatemeh Rajabian Gharib
Abstract
This study aimed to identify challenges and enhance the student entrepreneurship ecosystem through a dual-method research approach in a sequential design. Initially, a focus group comprising stakeholders from Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (N=22) was formed to explore ...
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This study aimed to identify challenges and enhance the student entrepreneurship ecosystem through a dual-method research approach in a sequential design. Initially, a focus group comprising stakeholders from Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (N=22) was formed to explore issues surrounding student entrepreneurship. Subsequently, the Strategic Options Development and Analysis (SODA) approach, a problem-structuring and soft operational research method, was employed in the analytical phase to map the dimensions of the student entrepreneurship ecosystem. The overarching goal of this strategic analysis was to enhance the student entrepreneurship ecosystem. Through cognitive mapping and analyses using Decision Explorer, three strategic maps were developed for each dimension: content enrichment, process structuring, and fostering an enabling environment for student entrepreneurship. The cognitive mapping exercise unveiled pivotal issues within the student entrepreneurship landscape. Notably, deficiencies in business plan content and structure based on new business models/canvas were underscored as crucial, with a domain score of 10 and a central score of 21.15. Inadequate performance of entrepreneurship mentors was identified as a significant challenge in improving the process structure of student entrepreneurship, scoring 15 in the domain and 18.18 centrally. Furthermore, the lack of alignment between university education, research, and entrepreneurship missions was highlighted as a key concern in creating an enabling environment for student entrepreneurship, scoring 13 in the domain and 16.22 centrally. Drawing upon these insights, tailored strategies were proposed to enhance the student entrepreneurship ecosystem, addressing critical areas identified in each cognitive map.
Agricultural education
Seyed Mohammad Javad Sobhani; Omid Jamshidi; Zahra Fozouni Ardekani
Abstract
In recent years, the COVID-19 pandemic has heightened the significance of virtual education in transforming higher education patterns. Consequently, the higher education system in agriculture, which relies on hands-on activities, requires a specific understanding of its audience’s behavior to enhance ...
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In recent years, the COVID-19 pandemic has heightened the significance of virtual education in transforming higher education patterns. Consequently, the higher education system in agriculture, which relies on hands-on activities, requires a specific understanding of its audience’s behavior to enhance learning outcomes. The current research, adopting a quantitative perspective and a causal approach, has analyzed students' behavior towards Learning Management Systems in higher agricultural education during the academic year 2023. The research instrument was a questionnaire based on the amalgamation of the Theory of Planned Behavior and the Technology Acceptance Model, the face validity of which was confirmed by university and industry experts, and its convergent and divergent validity confirmed with an AVE of 0.659to0.881. Additionally, the reliability of all research components was estimated to be satisfactory with an ordinal theta coefficient of 0.715to0.921 and a CR of 0.852 to 0.950. Data required from 385 students currently enrolled in public agricultural universities (N=9819) were collected using stratified random sampling and analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling. Research findings indicated that perceived ease of use has a positive and significant effect on perceived usefulness but does not affect the behavioral intention to use the LMS education system. Furthermore, other model-derived components, such as perceived usefulness, perceived control, and subjective norms, have a significant positive effect on the mediator behavioral intention, ultimately explaining 71 percent of the actual behavior dependent variable. Based on the results, recommendations were put forth to strengthen the effective components and improve accessibility to the Learning Management System.
Agricultural education
Amirhossein Alibaygi; Masoumeh Taghibaygi
Abstract
This combined research was conducted with the main purpose of presenting a model for improving the teaching motivation of agricultural faculty members in public universities in the west of Iran. In the qualitative phase, the grounded theory was used, which led to the identification of the components ...
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This combined research was conducted with the main purpose of presenting a model for improving the teaching motivation of agricultural faculty members in public universities in the west of Iran. In the qualitative phase, the grounded theory was used, which led to the identification of the components of the model for improving the educational motivation of faculty members. The research method in the quantitative phase was causal-correlation. The population of the qualitative part was faculty members who had managerial experience and were familiar with motivational topics. After deep interviewing 19 of them, a threshold of usefulness was obtained. The statistical population of the quantitative part was 486 faculty members of agricultural faculties in the west of the Iran. Sample members were selected by proportional stratified random sampling technique (n= 215). The data of the quantitative part was collected through a researcher-made questionnaire based on the findings of the qualitative phase. Data analysis in the qualitative part was done through three stages of open, axial and selective coding using MAXQDA software. In the quantitative part, SPSS18 software was used to check individual characteristics and partial least squares method using Smart PLS3 software was used to test the measurement, structural model and test the hypotheses. The research findings in the qualitative part led to the identification of 50 indicators in the form of seven categories of structural, professional, psychological, environmental, social, managerial and scientific factors. The findings of the quantitative part of the research showed that all seven research hypotheses are confirmed.
Agricultural education
fateme karimi etemad; jafar yaghobi; abdolhamid papzan
Abstract
The higher education system, as the most obvious manifestation of human resource investment, plays a key role in training and providing effective human resources. So The development of higher education is very important as one of the infrastructures of the development of any country. In this regard, ...
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The higher education system, as the most obvious manifestation of human resource investment, plays a key role in training and providing effective human resources. So The development of higher education is very important as one of the infrastructures of the development of any country. In this regard, the development of agricultural higher education can play an important role in the growth of agriculture and guarantee the achievement of comprehensive and sustainable development of agriculture. The main purpose of this research was to identify the most important and the pillars ways to improve agricultural higher education. Due to the exploratory approach, qualitative approach was used to identify the solutions. The statistical population of the research was university experts, graduates, agricultural entrepreneurs and managers of agricultural jihad, and 32 experts were interviewed using purposeful sampling until reaching the threshold of usefulness. Agriculture has been used in Zanjan province. By analyzing the text of the interviews, 200 conceptual propositions related to the purpose of the research were extracted during open coding.These concepts were classified in the form of 52 sub-categories during axial coding and then in 6 general categories during selective coding. According to this classification, the most important aspects of improving the agricultural higher education system include educational-research, infrastructure, structural (infrastructure), individual-skill (human resources), administrative-management (organizational) and economic aspects.
soheila pourjavid; bahman Khosravipour; Amirhossein Alibaygi
Abstract
Universities are usually made subject to many complex, and sometimes contradictory, changes in the provision of job opportunities, missions, technological advancements, budgets and national/international competitions. These changes can pose threats to the traditional mode of education, research and services. ...
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Universities are usually made subject to many complex, and sometimes contradictory, changes in the provision of job opportunities, missions, technological advancements, budgets and national/international competitions. These changes can pose threats to the traditional mode of education, research and services. They have prompted the need to perform activities better, faster and with less cost. While universities must protect the ideals and values of society and strive to convey virtuous culture from one generation to another, they are also expected to be agile and flexible in policies. The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify the components of institutionalization of the fourth generation of universities in Iranian organizations of higher education. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with specialists in agriculture of higher education and experts who also had managerial experience in starred academic positions. The research involved 20 individual interviews via line-by-line analysis. The interviews were processed in the form of conventional content analysis using MAXQDA software. Based on the findings, the components of institutionalization of the fourth generation of universities in Iranian agricultural higher education included the competence of the agricultural university, the speed and flexibility of the university in dealing with changes and transformations, responsiveness, knowledge-based learning and innovative capacity of the university, all of which summarily comprised the 6 components
Seyed Abolghasem Barabadi; Ali Shams; Nicholas Wise
Abstract
Identifying the obstacles limiting the level of use of social network sites (SNS) in educating activities by the stakeholders of the educational system can help in informed decision-making and planning in this field. The aim of this study was to identify the barriers to the use of SNSs in agricultural ...
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Identifying the obstacles limiting the level of use of social network sites (SNS) in educating activities by the stakeholders of the educational system can help in informed decision-making and planning in this field. The aim of this study was to identify the barriers to the use of SNSs in agricultural higher education from the perspective of faculty members and students. The statistical population included 1215 faculty and 36132 students of public agricultural colleges of Iran. Using multi-stage random sampling method, 211 faculty and 400 students from different universities were selected and studied. Data were collected by a questionnaire taken from the results of previous studies with a five-level Likert scale. The validity of the questionnaire was confirmed discriminately and reliability with a composite reliability coefficient. Data were analyzed by t-test, Mann-Whitney, and structural equation modeling using partial least squares method. The results showed that the rate of educational use of SNSs by students is more than professors and their attitude towards the use of these networks in teaching and learning is more positive than faculty members. The modeling results also indicate that the factors related to students, type of lessons, and characteristics of SNSs have a negative and significant relationship with the educational use of faculty members of these networks. Also, factors related to faculty members, educational organizations, and software and hardware inhibitors show a negative and significant relationship between students' use of social networks in education.
amir naeemi; Behzad Ranjbar; Farnoosh Nahavandian
Abstract
Given the rapid changes in this century the agricultural education system, in addition to the educational and technical aspects, must assist students and other stakeholders in acquiring cultural and social skills and abilities. So, the purpose of this applied research was to analyze the effects of cultural ...
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Given the rapid changes in this century the agricultural education system, in addition to the educational and technical aspects, must assist students and other stakeholders in acquiring cultural and social skills and abilities. So, the purpose of this applied research was to analyze the effects of cultural capability on cultural capital among agricultural students at the University of Zanjan. This quantitative research in terms of data collection and analysis is a field study and in terms of the possibility and ability to control variables is causal-relational research. The statistical population of the study was 1023 people of agricultural students studying at the University of Zanjan (N=1023). The sample size determined via Krejcie and Morgan’s table (n=284). The sampling method was proportional stratified random sampling. The research instrument was a questionnaire. The face and content validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by a panel of agricultural extension and education experts. The reliability of the questionnaire was confirmed by calculating the ordinal theta between 0.74 to 0.94 and composite reliability between 0.72 to 0.97. SPSS software and structural equation modeling methods in AMOS software were used to process the data. The results of the structural model showed that according to the viewpoint of students, the cultural capability has a significant and positive effect on the cultural capital. Also, the cultural intelligence and skills of students have a positive and significant effect on cultural capital and the structural model analysis showed that cultural capability can explain 28% of students' cultural capital changes.
Negin Fallah Haghighi; Masoud Bijani; Maryam Mahmoudi
Abstract
The higher education system, as the most obvious manifestation of human resource investment, plays a key role in training and providing effective human resources. The agricultural higher education system is no exception to this rule. But, the question is, what should such a system look like for optimal ...
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The higher education system, as the most obvious manifestation of human resource investment, plays a key role in training and providing effective human resources. The agricultural higher education system is no exception to this rule. But, the question is, what should such a system look like for optimal impact on human resource development? This study aimed to analyze the gap between current and desirable situations of agricultural higher education system factors affecting human resources development (HRD) in Yazd province. The statistical population consisted of faculty members of Yazd agricultural higher education and research centers (N=253), 163 of whom were selected based on Krejcie and Morgan table using stratified random sampling method. The research instrument was a researcher-made questionnaire which its face validity was confirmed by a panel of agricultural higher education experts. The reliability of the questionnaire was confirmed by ordinal theta for both parts of current status (0.81≤θ≤0.87) and desirable status (0.83≤θ≤0.93). In order to process the data using SPSS24 and R software, in addition to descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney test was used to compare faculty members' viewpoints towards the current and desirable situations of agricultural higher education system factors affecting human resources development. The results indicated a significant gap between the current status and the desired status of four factors influencing HRD (respectively increase in gap) including "job and skill competence of human resources", "process of training and educational planning", "balance in supply and demand and interaction with economic sectors "and" development of innovation in agricultural higher education system".
heshmat saadi; mehdi noripour; saeed hedayati nia
Abstract
Previous studies showed that the learning environment has the undeniable effect on achieving educational goals. In competence-based education (CBE), one of the most important goals is making a connection between education and labor market. Therefore, to achieve this educational goal, characteristics ...
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Previous studies showed that the learning environment has the undeniable effect on achieving educational goals. In competence-based education (CBE), one of the most important goals is making a connection between education and labor market. Therefore, to achieve this educational goal, characteristics of the learning environment should be taken into account. In this analytical- descriptive research, previous studies have been analyzed through content analysis and coding method in order to extract characteristics of a competence- based learning environment in agricultural higher education. The sample population was 12 related researches that selected purposefully. The research instrument was researcher made checklists. Based on the previous researches and regarding CBE principles, learning environment in agricultural higher education have five characteristics including: emphasis on practical activities, emphasis on communicational skills, emphasis on learners’ personal development, supporting learner’s participation in the learning process, and considering evaluation principles. Considering the results of the research and the emphasis of CBE on the close relationship between the learning environment and workplace and also the empirical nature of the agricultural education, it is suggested that special attention be paid to the learning environment characteristics in agricultural education and curriculum planning.
enayat abbasi; mahsa saadvandi; humayon farhadian
Abstract
Previous studies showed that the learning environment has the undeniable effect onachieving educational goals. In competence-based education (CBE), one of the most importantgoals is making a connection between education and labor market. Therefore, to achieve thiseducational goal, characteristics of ...
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Previous studies showed that the learning environment has the undeniable effect onachieving educational goals. In competence-based education (CBE), one of the most importantgoals is making a connection between education and labor market. Therefore, to achieve thiseducational goal, characteristics of the learning environment should be taken into account. Inthis analytical- descriptive research, previous studies have been analyzed through contentanalysis and coding method in order to extract characteristics of a competence- based learningenvironment in agricultural higher education. The sample population was 12 related researchesthat selected purposefully. The research instrument was researcher made checklists. Based onthe previous researches and regarding CBE principles, learning environment in agriculturalhigher education have five characteristics including: emphasis on practical activities, emphasison communicational skills, emphasis on learners’ personal development, supporting learner’sparticipation in the learning process, and considering evaluation principles. Considering theresults of the research and the emphasis of CBE on the close relationship between the learningenvironment and workplace and also the empirical nature of the agricultural education, it issuggested that special attention be paid to the learning environment characteristics inagricultural education and curriculum planning
Abstract
Today this has been accepted that entrepreneurship education success is depended on reinforcement of students' entrepreneurial self-efficacy beliefs. In other words entrepreneurial self-efficacy beliefs are precursor for business startup behavior or business development, particularly for reduction of ...
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Today this has been accepted that entrepreneurship education success is depended on reinforcement of students' entrepreneurial self-efficacy beliefs. In other words entrepreneurial self-efficacy beliefs are precursor for business startup behavior or business development, particularly for reduction of nascent entrepreneur’s fear of failure. The main aim of Empirical research was assessment the composed structures of Entrepreneurial self- efficacy among agricultural students. This Empirical research is applied research which its data was gathered through survey method. Non experimental research as well as descriptive – correlation approach is best description for research type. Senior and junior undergraduate agricultural students composed research population (N=730). 120 convenient questionnaires were gathered as result of Cochran formula. Validity was treated through face validity, convergence and construct validity and reliability was considered by Cronbach’s alpha and composite reliability amount. Structural Equation Modeling using confirmatory factor analysis was dominant method which shows for sustainable entrepreneurship in higher education, seven dimensions have central role. Systems thinking competence (STC), Embracing diversity and interdisciplinarity (EDI), Foresighted thinking (FTC), Normative competence (NC), Action competence (AC), Interpersonal competence (IC) and Strategic management competence (SMC), confirmed as dominant competencies that must be considered in entrepreneurship education. It seems concentrate on these competencies for in agricultural education with aim to fostering nascent entrepreneur, could result on sustainable entrepreneurship.
rohoollah rezaei; fereshteh mirikaram
Abstract
The purpose of this research was to study the barriers affecting the level of students’ entrepreneurial skills. The statistical population of the research consisted of all postgraduate students of agricultural majors at the University College of Agricultural and Natural Resources in the University ...
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The purpose of this research was to study the barriers affecting the level of students’ entrepreneurial skills. The statistical population of the research consisted of all postgraduate students of agricultural majors at the University College of Agricultural and Natural Resources in the University of Tehran (N= 1188). According to the Krejcie and Morgan table, a sample size of 291 students was selected using a stratified random sampling technique. Researcher- made questionnaire was used to collect data. Content validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by a panel of experts. Construct validity and composite reliability of the research instrument were tested by estimating the measurement model and they were satisfactory after making necessary corrections. The data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling. Results showed that, five factors including: lack of entrepreneurial educational content, communicative- informational weakness, weakness of practical and innovative skills, motivational issues and weak planning had significant negative effect on the level of students’ entrepreneurial skills, explaining 72 percent the probability of its variances. Also, Results indicated that structure of the research model was confirmed based on the model fit indices and theoretical framework of the research was consistent with reality.
fatemeh ghorbani; aghdas walizadeh
Abstract
Unemployment of a large number of graduates of agricultural majors is blamed due to the failure of agricultural students to acquire skills necessary for carrying out agricultural activities at the job market. As practical solution to resolve this problem is paying more attention to agricultural ...
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Unemployment of a large number of graduates of agricultural majors is blamed due to the failure of agricultural students to acquire skills necessary for carrying out agricultural activities at the job market. As practical solution to resolve this problem is paying more attention to agricultural higher education curriculum, especially practical courses (laboratory courses, agricultural operations, internship). Regarding the importance of practical courses, this study was conducted with the aim of analyzing the challenges of practical courses of agriculture in Payam-E- Noor University of Dehloran from the viewpoint of crop science students. The statistical population consisted of 50 crop science students of Dehloran were investigated. The Validity of the researcher- made questionnaire was confirmed by a panel of experts and its reliability was calculated using by the Theta coefficient (q= 0.89). Nine factors identified through exploratory factor analysis as challenges of agricultural practical courses, were applied in ordinal regression analysis model and results revealed that four of them as; factors lack of transparency and necessary coordination, problems related to instructors activities, poor planning and shortage of facilities and infrastructures are the main factors as challenges that affect performance of crop science students in these courses which together could in logit equation 95.8 % risk of dependent variable variance ( performance of students in practical courses) has correctly estimated.
sheyda jahangiri; masuod baradaran; bahman khusravipour; mansour ghanian
Abstract
This study aims to identify psychological and sociological characteristics associated with the entrepreneurial spirit in students. Research method of this study was survey research. The data collection tools was a researcher-made questionnaire plus two standard tests. Total population was 262 graduate ...
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This study aims to identify psychological and sociological characteristics associated with the entrepreneurial spirit in students. Research method of this study was survey research. The data collection tools was a researcher-made questionnaire plus two standard tests. Total population was 262 graduate students of Ramin Agricultural and Natural Resources University and 170 persons of them were selected randomly by Krejcie and Morgan Table. Based on the results the entrepreneurial spirit in our study was relatively poor and the majority of students' had quite desirable characteristics of creativity, Internal control center, need for achievement, dedication and determination but undesirable risk taking Propensity and independence features. In the level of Ninety-five percent, there is a significant statistical difference between entrepreneurial spirit in terms of educational and employment history. also in the level of Ninety-five percent and Ninety-nine percent, there is a significant difference in terms of faculty and academic disciplines, is in the creativity feature, Thus agricultural and rural engineering college student and Mechanization Department, compared to other faculties and disciplines have been more creative. In the level of Ninety-five percent, there is a positive correlation between entrepreneurial spirit and need for achievement with educational level and in the level of Ninety-nine percent there is a negative correlation between dedication and determination with birth order. In the level of Ninety-five percent there is a positive correlation between creativity with Education level of mother
neda alizzadeh; hasan sedighi; ghulamreza pezeshkirad; maghsuod ferasatkhah
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to analysis of effective components of educational evolution in agriculturalhigher education system in Iran. A mix- method paradigm was applied to this study. The statisticalpopulation included 361 faculty members (N=361), who teach in agricultural college at Tehran,TarbiatModares ...
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The purpose of this study was to analysis of effective components of educational evolution in agriculturalhigher education system in Iran. A mix- method paradigm was applied to this study. The statisticalpopulation included 361 faculty members (N=361), who teach in agricultural college at Tehran,TarbiatModares and Shiraz Universities. 186 faculty members (n=186), were selected by using stratified randomsampling method and finally 166 questionnaire returned and analyzed. Data collection was donein two general sections. First, qualitative Meta-synthesis method in which data were collected as objectives,methods of sampling, methodology, content analysis, and research results. The results of thisanalysis led to the identification of five main factors influencing the educational evaluation (learning,education and teaching, competence, quality of education, and leadership). Second, structural equationmodeling to examine the modeling hypotheses. Results of this section showed that new learning models,leadership styles and educational competence had significant effects on educational evolution
Naser Zamani; Samaneh Ebrahimi; Farideh Bahrami
Abstract
Lack of group work competencies is one of the main obstacles to sustainable employment of agricultural graduates. One of the methods for developing group work competencies among students, is group assignment. The main purpose of this research was to assess the attitudes of undergraduate agricultural ...
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Lack of group work competencies is one of the main obstacles to sustainable employment of agricultural graduates. One of the methods for developing group work competencies among students, is group assignment. The main purpose of this research was to assess the attitudes of undergraduate agricultural students towards group assignments, and to investigate their attitude determinants. Data needed for this non-experimental research was collected using survey technique and a questionnaire. Sample size was determined using Morgan’s table (297 persons), and subjects were selected through random sampling method. Descriptive statistical analysis along with Pearson correlation coefficient, regression and t-test were used to analyze data. Findings indicated that respondents had fairly positive attitudes towards group assignments. The perceptions of group assignments, group work skills and grade point average could explain 39 percent of variance in attitudes towards group assignments.
