Agricultural education
Naser Naseri; Shahpar Geravandi; farahnaz Rostami
Abstract
Improper handling of agricultural residues can lead to irreversible environmental damage. This study investigates the impact of two training methods, in-person and remote, on the management of agricultural residues among wheat farmers in Ravansar County during the 2022-2023 agricultural years. The Transtheoretical ...
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Improper handling of agricultural residues can lead to irreversible environmental damage. This study investigates the impact of two training methods, in-person and remote, on the management of agricultural residues among wheat farmers in Ravansar County during the 2022-2023 agricultural years. The Transtheoretical Model (TTM) was used as a comprehensive framework to assess farmers' decisions and behaviors throughout the training process.This research employed a quasi-experimental pre-test post-test design with a control group. The study population comprised 400 wheat farmers from Ravansar County. According to Krejcie and Morgan's table, 180 participants were randomly selected and divided into three groups of 60 (two experimental groups: in-person and remote, and one control group). Data were collected using a researcher-developed questionnaire, measuring constructs such as self-efficacy (16 items), stages of change (18 items), decision-making balance (22 items), and behavior (6 items). The data were analyzed using SPSS18 software and statistical tests, including paired and independent t-tests, ANOVA, HSD test, and the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test.The results indicated that remote training based on the Transtheoretical Model was more effective in improving self-efficacy and stages of change, while in-person training yielded better results in decision-making balance. However, both groups showed similar outcomes in the behavior construct. These findings suggest that remote training in agricultural residue management during pandemics can be an effective approach to reducing the practice of burning agricultural residues among farmers by enhancing self-efficacy and translating theoretical knowledge into practical behaviors.
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
Khadijeh Soleimani; bahman khosravipour; Masoud Yazdanpanah; kathrin Loher; Stefan Siber; Moslem Savari
Abstract
online social networks (OSNs) are considered as one of the achievements of the era of rapid advancements in ICT, the most popular social media and have been significantly welcomed. In the meantime, OSNs with wide distribution and high speed are suitable tools for these purposes, especially for farmers ...
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online social networks (OSNs) are considered as one of the achievements of the era of rapid advancements in ICT, the most popular social media and have been significantly welcomed. In the meantime, OSNs with wide distribution and high speed are suitable tools for these purposes, especially for farmers to achieve educational-extensional goals. However, not many studies have been conducted on the acceptance of these networks among farmers with educational-extensional goals. So, this research was conducted with the aim of investigating the factors influencing the use OSNs with educational-extensional activities among farmers in Khuzestan province in Iran by using the developed technology readiness index (TRI). Among the farmers of Khuzestan province, the number of usable completed questionnaires, which were collected through simple random sampling from 377 farmers as a research sample, was analyzed. In order to increase the strength of the index, the variable of social influence was added to the index. The collected data were analyzed with Smart PLS and SPSS software. The results of the structural equation model (SEM) showed that the variables of optimism, innovativeness had a positive and significant effect and discomfort and insecurity did not have effect on farmers' technology readiness index adoption regarding the use of OSNs for educational and extensional purposes. Also, the variable of social influence as a variable added to this index and had a significant effect on the farmers' technology readiness index adoption. The results of this research can open the way for the planners and experts of the agricultural sector.
Agricultural education
ALI piramoon; Masuod Baradaran; Moslem Savari
Abstract
The goal of agricultural science education at the level of agricultural secondary schools is to train human resources and create interest in them for agricultural production. But in this route, the agricultural secondary schools do not have a good educational status compared to ordinary schools, and ...
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The goal of agricultural science education at the level of agricultural secondary schools is to train human resources and create interest in them for agricultural production. But in this route, the agricultural secondary schools do not have a good educational status compared to ordinary schools, and they face several problems on the way to education. Most of these challenges have been in educational, research, institutional and structural dimensions. The purpose of this research was to design a model for the excellence of the quality of agricultural secondary schools in Khuzestan province. This research has been applied in nature and descriptive in order to collect data. To achieve the research goals, a combination of the the analytical network process method and the EFQM quality excellence model was used. Then, using the targeted sampling method, 28 Teachers from the five agricultural secondary schools Khuzestan province was selected in various agricultural fields. The findings showed that from the perspective of teachers to achieve the model of quality excellence in the order of criteria of resources and partners، Leadership and human resources have the highest priority. Also, from the perspective of teachers in leadership sub-criteria; strategies for monitoring the acceptance of high-quality students, Policy and strategy, decentralization and granting powers to managers, Human resources, the recruitment of efficient human resources in the educational, security and agricultural technicians sectors, resources and partners, paying attention to the livelihood factors of teachers and employees, and processes, increasing the quality of workshops of the greatest importance.
Agricultural education
Fatemeh Soleymani; Masoud Bijani; Fatemeh Sepahvand
Abstract
One of the main challenges in the field of agricultural higher education is finding a balance between teaching and research activities. The main goal of this study was to analyze the content of this balance in the field of agriculture. To achieve this goal, a systematic review method was used in the ...
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One of the main challenges in the field of agricultural higher education is finding a balance between teaching and research activities. The main goal of this study was to analyze the content of this balance in the field of agriculture. To achieve this goal, a systematic review method was used in the form of qualitative interpretive content analysis. After searching and evaluating relevant studies, 125 studies were considered as the final sample. Relevant research evidence was identified and extracted from reputable databases (Science Direct, Google Scholar, Jihad University Scientific Information Center, Civilica, and Mogiran). The analysis of the results showed that the components of the balance between teaching and research in agricultural higher education include current activities in the classroom, current processes in the structure of higher education system, existing infrastructure in the higher education system, interaction of agricultural faculties with the surrounding environment, resources and time, collaboration and interaction, evaluation and accreditation, and organizational culture are the factors contributing to or lack of balance between teaching and research. In this regard, to maintain the balance between teaching and research, it is necessary for three key factors, including curriculum relevant to current agricultural issues, faculty members, and students, to pay attention to this issue; furthermore, the attention of policymakers is also essential to create a suitable balance in this area.
Agricultural education
majidreza khodaverdian; zeidallah heshmati; rahim mirzaei
Abstract
The purpose of this research was to determine the effective factors on the motivation of managers and staff experts to participate in the training courses while serving the staff of the Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization and to identify and rank the motivational factors of the ...
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The purpose of this research was to determine the effective factors on the motivation of managers and staff experts to participate in the training courses while serving the staff of the Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization and to identify and rank the motivational factors of the participants in the training courses. The statistical population of this research included 365 managers and experts, of which 190 were selected by simple random method based on Morgan's sampling table. According to the practical purpose, in terms of the data analysis method to investigate the relationship between the variables, the type of research was causal-communicative research, and in terms of implementation, it was a survey. The method of data collection was done using questionnaires. , the questionnaire had convergent validity and adequate reliability for the reliability of the questionnaires from theta An order was used in which the total theta of the variables was reported as 0.93. Statistical data was calculated in SPSSwin26 software. The findings of the analysis of structural equation modeling using PLS software showed that the variables, increasing knowledge and skills, educational rules and regulations, and job Extension are among the influencing variables in the motivation of participants in in-service training courses and three hypotheses were confirmed. And the hypotheses of the impact of organizational commitment, livelihood improvement and job security on the motivation of participants in agricultural training courses while serving employees were not confirmed.
Agricultural education
Mohsen Maleklee; Amir Alambeigi; Seyyed Yousef Hedjazi; Seyed Mahmood Hosseini
Abstract
Due to the critical nature of agricultural extension in poverty alleviation and increasing food security, it is necessary to pay attention to the entry and barring of new actors through the pluralistic approach in agricultural extension. One of these actors is the private sector, and the issue of service ...
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Due to the critical nature of agricultural extension in poverty alleviation and increasing food security, it is necessary to pay attention to the entry and barring of new actors through the pluralistic approach in agricultural extension. One of these actors is the private sector, and the issue of service quality is of double importance in the case of this sector of agricultural technical service providers. The statistical population of this research was farmers who had the experience of using the services of consulting, technical and agricultural engineering services companies in Tehran province during the last 5 years, and finally, 201 farmers were selected from the 422 participants through random sampling method. A questionnaire was used to collect data, and to determine its validity, the average value of extracted variance (AVE = 0.82) was used, and to determine the reliability of the research tool, the composite reliability value (CR = 0.95) was used. SERVQUAL model showed that the indicators of the model titled: quality of response (0.84), concreteness (0.79), guarantee (0.77), reliability (0.56), empathy (0.74), loyalty (0.65), company organization (0.65), customer service (0.55) and internal control (0.44) can be modeled. Based on this, it was found that the SERVQUAL model has the necessary credibility for measuring the quality of services provided to farmers and providing services with a higher level of quality by consulting companies for technical and agricultural engineering services.
