Agricultural Education Administration Research

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Institutional Capacity and Cultural Maturity as Antecedents of Social Responsibility Outcomes in Iranian Agricultural Higher Education

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 University of Tehran

2 University Of Tehran

3 University of tehran

4 Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, College of Agriculture, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.

10.22092/jaear.2025.371277.2083

Abstract

This study addresses the persistent gap between declared institutional readiness and tangible University Social Responsibility (USR) achievements within agricultural higher education. The primary objective was to precisely model the mediating role of Cultural Maturity in converting formal Institutional Capacity (structural readiness) into palpable USR outcomes, thereby identifying the necessary drivers for effective USR implementation. Employing an applied, causal-correlational methodology, data was collected from 124 randomly selected agricultural faculty members across the country. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was utilized to analyze the proposed relationships. The modeling results confirmed a robust causal framework. Specifically, Institutional Capacity was found to significantly and directly influence Cultural Maturity concerning social responsibility. Furthermore, Institutional Capacity plays a meaningful direct role in shaping USR achievements. Crucially, the analysis established that Cultural Maturity also exerts a key, positive, and significant impact on USR achievements, acting as an essential force in the overall model. The research concludes that achieving sustainable USR effectiveness in agricultural universities demands a dual-axial approach. Success is achieved by first establishing and fortifying Institutional Capacity as the structural foundation, and then strategically investing in Cultural Maturity as the primary engine and mediating force necessary for translating potential into realized societal achievements.

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References
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Agricultural Education Administration Research
Volume 17, Issue 74 - Serial Number 74
December 2025
Pages 61-76
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