The Effect of Extracurricular Activities on Agricultural Student’s Employability (Case of College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran)

Students’ employability is one of the critical issues in higher education practice and research. Participation in extracurricular activities is one of the employability development mechanisms. The main purpose of this study was to examine the effects of extracurricular activities on students’ employability. A survey was conducted among 190 agricultural students’ in agricultural and natural resources University College, University of Tehran. Data were collected through a questionnaire which its face validity, construct validity and reliability were confirmed through a panel of experts, convergent and discriminant validity and composite reliability, respectively. Results revealed that participation in extracurricular activities had positive effect on students’ employability. 46 percent of students’ employability variance was explained by participation in extracurricular activities. According to results and regarding the lack of developed mechanisms to address employability in universities curriculum, improving students’ employability through extracurricular activities is recommended.