Assessment of Educational Service Quality in Agricultural Higher Education System via Application of Service Quality Model (SERVQUAL) (Case Study of Tarbiat Modares University, Faculty of Agriculture)

Nowadays, interest in quality in higher education and universities has been increased and paid attention in educational researches in international area. This descriptive- correlational research aimed to investigate university educational services quality from the students’ viewpoint. The statistical population of the research consisted of all Master of Science (MSc.) and Ph. D. students of faculty of agriculture in Tarbiat Modares University (TMU) (N= 414). Using Krejcie and Morgan’s table and simple random sampling, 193 students were selected as research sample (n= 193). A structured questionnaire, including end-closed answers using adjusted educational service quality (SERVQUAL) model in five dimensions was the main tool for data gathering. A panel of agricultural extension and education confirmed the validity of the questionnaire and its reliability was confirmed by calculating Cronbach alpha. According to the results, the priority of educational service quality dimension from the students’ viewpoints included empathy, responsiveness, reliability, tangibility and assurance. The results of comparing tests means showed that there were significant differences between the students with different courses, different average of scores and different gender regarding the satisfying from the educational service quality.