Study of the Student's Entrepreneurial Competencies at Agricultural Applied-Science Courses

Continuous assessment and development of student’s entrepreneurial capabilities and planning isessential for maintaining the effectiveness of Imam Khomeini Higher Education Center (IHEC). Lackof recognition the student’s entrepreneurial abilities was the main issue in the country’s agricultural scientific-applied higher education centers. On the basis, the main objective of this research was determined the capabilities evaluation in the IHEC. The statistical population were students of IHECthat attending in 2012-2013 academic year (N=1595). The sample size was determined by Cochran's formula (n=195). Validity and reliability of the research instrument were carried out. The research method was survey. The results showed that the average of student's entrepreneurial competence was moderate (3.31 from 5). On the other hand, variables of field of study, level of education, gender, marital status, place of birth, employment status, agricultural experiences, passing entrepreneurial lesson, time of starting study, and average of lessons passed, have not created significant differences on entrepreneurial competence of students. However, place of resident (urban or rural), entrepreneurial experience, attendance at entrepreneurial courses, and entrepreneurial experience of parents have made a significant difference in entrepreneurial competence of students. At the end, it should be recommended that more emphasis should be placed on topics concerning "communication" and "business base" components in reviewing the content of entrepreneurship course. Also, agricultural scientific-applied higher education' planners should pay attentions on both qualitative and quantitative in extra- curricular courses of educations such as business and increasing the student's visits of entrepreneurs business units seriously.