Open AccessJournal Article
Are agricultural graduates meeting employers' expectations? A perspective from Iran : research article
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TLDR
In this paper, the main competencies that higher agricultural education graduates should possess, based on the perceptions of potential agricultural employers, were identified, including communication skills, problem-solving ability, agricultural ethics, business and computer skills, and general administrative skills such as leadership and team-work.Abstract:
A high level of personal capacity, the relevant professional competence and technical skills
are essential for a graduate's successful transition to the workplace. The purpose of this
survey was to identify the main competencies that higher agricultural education graduates
should possess, based on the perceptions of potential agricultural employers. The population
of this study comprised public, private, and cooperative managers and employers in the
agricultural sector in the provinces of Mazandaran, Khuzestan, Kermanshah and Hamedan
(N=485). A sample of 212 employers was selected using a stratified random sampling method.
A four-part instrument in the form of a questionnaire was developed by the researchers to
gather the required data. Factor analysis was used to elicit the preferences of employers for
key competencies. The results show that employers value generic competencies relatively
higher than field-specific competencies for agricultural graduates entering the agricultural
field. The generic competencies identified include communication skills, problem-solving
ability, agricultural ethics, business and computer skills, and general administrative skills
and abilities, such as leadership and team-work. Technical skills and agricultural
professionalism were identified as field-specific competencies. To develop these competencies,
a new didactical arrangement, including supervised agricultural experience programmes,
experiential learning, and fundamental changes in the teaching and learning process are
proposed.read more
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