Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

• Mohammad Sharif Sharifzadeh ¹
• Gholamhossein Abdollahzadeh ²

¹ organ University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources - Golestan, Iran

² Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, Faculty of Agricultural Management, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources - Golestan, Iran

Abstract

This applied research aimed to assess the strategic context of international student recruitment at Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. Initially, a review of relevant trans-university and intra-university documents was conducted. Consequently, 34 external factors were identified, comprising 16 opportunities and 18 threats, alongside 41 internal factors, which included 18 strengths and 23 weaknesses. In the subsequent phase, the insights garnered from the initial stage were assembled into a questionnaire designed for evaluating and formulating strategies rooted in the SWOT analytical framework and the assessment matrix for strategic situations and actions. The statistical population for this phase encompassed 200 university faculty members, from which 132 were randomly chosen via stratified sampling. The results of the SWOT analysis indicated that the overall score for internal factors was 2.623 and 3.164, while the external factors scored 2.381 and 3.361, respectively. The findings suggest that the strategies for attracting international students largely align with defensive measures. Therefore, it is imperative for the university to first address its weaknesses, followed by alleviating threats by leveraging its existing strengths and opportunities. Moreover, through the application of focus group discussions, four defensive strategic goals were established and prioritized, namely: 1- Enhancing institutional, scientific, and research capabilities to attract international students; 2- Fostering comprehensive development in the university’s international collaboration; 3- Advancing curricular and educational quality with a global perspective; and 4- Elevating support services and the overall academic experience for international students.

Keywords

• Internationalization of higher education
• educational diplomacy
• strategic planning
• academic development

Main Subjects

• Agricultural education