The Requirements for Holding Training Courses for the Professional Development of Faculty Members: (Case Study)

This research aimed to identify and prioritize pedagogical training needs of academic staff. The descriptive methodology based on survey approach was used. Target population includes 168 academic staff of Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources among them, 71 faculty members were selected, randomly. Most respondents were moderately satisfied with the quality of the workshops. About 79 percent of respondents believed that "needs assessments and surveys of academic staff" is an appropriate basis for holding courses. The most important training needs include: “training principles and techniques of entrepreneurship and business”, “Being Familiar with the academic education systems of the top countries in the field of higher education (through those academic staff who graduated from foreign countries”, “principles and techniques of self-directing professional development: promotion and professional self-development” and “application of psychology in education and learning”. Employing the experienced instructors in the delivery of contents, communicating effectively and improving the quality of courses in terms of innovation and applicability of content were recommended for more active participation of academic staff in the courses.