Websites quality evaluation of subordinate and affiliated institutions and national centers of Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization based on FAO criteria

Evaluate the websites qualification of 24 subordinate and affiliated institutes and national centers of Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO).Research Method/Approach: This study carried out in a survey method based on an appraisal approach to review the status of these websites. Their content and structural factors were compared and ranked by Web Quality Assurance Checklist of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), which includes 121 indices under 27 general indices in 4 categories. None of the institutions and national centers could reach the level of FAO indices. The assessment in the 4 categories was "average" in content quality, "good" in accessibility, usability and search engine optimization, "average" in Interface and technical quality, "good" in regular monitoring and review, and "average" in total. The Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands ranked first with 71.78% and the Research Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology ranked second 70.38%. "average" level in total for the websites due to existence of some essential problems need to be reviewed and redesigned with accredited standard website design and management. The major problems were the lack of attention to using standards in website design and the importance of its services as an important communication and information portal, lack of scientific documentation, lack of second language for scientific communication and exchange with international scientific communities, existence of discrete links and blank pages, template bugs, and lack of inserting copy right.