amir alambegi

According to the literature, the investigation of the role of technical skills in the perceived employability of agricultural students has been neglected by researchers. according to this, the main purpose of this research was to investigate the role of technical skills on the perceived employability of agricultural students.The statistical population of this applied research consists of fourth-year undergraduate agricultural students in the public universities of Iran in the academic year 2021-2022. The sample size was selected using the inverse square root method and multi-stage sampling method (n=384).The research instrument was a five-point Likert scale questionnaire, whose content validity was approved by a panel of experts, as well as calculating the factor loading and the divergent validity and discriminant validity and reliability tests through the calculation of ordinal theta and composite reliability (θ>0.7). Structural equation modeling and finite Mixture algorithm (FIMIX-PLS) were used in data analysis. The results showed that technical skills have a statistically significant relationship with the perceived employability of agricultural students. Also, By discovering the classes of intangible heterogeneity in the context of the research data, it was determined that the power of explaining the perceived employability of agricultural students by technical skills is very low for 79.2% of the studied students and very high for 20.8% of them. The analysis showed that the two groups differ from each other based on interest in the field of study. The obtained results can be used in planning for the movement of agricultural higher education institutions towards training employable students.

The following research aims to provide a structural model for the development of essential soft skills in agricultural students. In this regard, a mixed approach (qualitative-quantitative) was used. In the qualitative part of the research, the data was collected through semi-structured interviews with 19 Participants (faculty members of agricultural majors) who are expert in the subject of research. Participants were selected using purposeful and snowball sampling methods. In qualitative phase, "grounded theory strategy" was used to design the initial model of the research. In the quantitative part of the research, after confirming the reliability and validity of the instrument, data were collected from 384 of the senior students of agricultural majors. In order to evaluate the research model, Structural equation modeling with partial least squares approach was used. The results of the research confirmed the research model. Based on this model, the factors affecting on essential soft skills and essential soft skills consequences for agricultural students were clarified.

Today, higher education institutions around the world are beginning to change their missions, goals, and prospects to address and integrate issues related to biodiversity conservation in their functions. The human component of the agricultural higher education system is one of the pillars of this system that plays a central role in advancing the objectives of the system in a dynamic and harmonious connection with other components. However, so far no effective efforts have been made in the country to identify effective factors in improving the professional competence of faculty members. Therefore, this study was conducted to identify the components of faculty members' professional competencies for biodiversity education. This study was conducted using qualitative approach and inductive content analysis method. Required information was collected through semi-structured interviews with 24 experts in the field of environmental education and biodiversity selected by snowball sampling. We began the inductive content analysis by identifying the meanings and then tagging them in the form of qualitative codes, and continued by codifying the codes and linking them to categories. This process was implemented with the help of MAXQDA software. To validate the qualitative findings, participant review and expert review strategies have been used. The findings showed that faculty members' professional competencies for biodiversity education included skills competencies, knowledge competencies, value competencies and ethical competencies, each of which has indicators

In recent years, a number of biodiversity in Iran have become extinct and many of them are on the verge of extinction, while biodiversity plays an important role in environmental life and health. This includes a large number of cultivated and horticultural species. Universities can play an important role in preserving and improving biodiversity. On this basis, Higher education institutions around the world have begun to change their missions, goals, and perspectives to address and integrate the challenges of biodiversity conservation. Creating such an educational structure will not simply happen and will require research, re-thinking and revising the components of the university. The human component of the system of higher education in agriculture and natural resources is one of the pillars of the system that plays a central role in advancing the system's objectives in a dynamic and harmonious connection with other components. Therefore, this study was conducted to identify the components of faculty members' professional competencies for biodiversity education. This study was conducted with qualitative approach and inductive content analysis method. Required data were collected by semi-structured interviews with 24 experts in the field of environmental education and biodiversity selected by snowball sampling. He began the inductive content analysis by identifying the meaningful aspects and then labeling them in the form of qualitative identities and continued by categorizing the identities and linking them to categories. This process was implemented with the help of MAXQDA software. To validate qualitative findings, participant review and expert review strategies have been used. The findings showed that faculty members' professional competencies for biodiversity education included skills competencies, knowledge competencies, value competencies, and ethical competencies that each had indicators