Designing a Model of Values in Higher Agricultural Education of Iran

The main purpose of the present study was to design a model of values in higher agricultural education in Iran. This research uses a mixed paradigm and applies a exploratory sequential design. The statistical population of the research in the qualitative part consists of faculty members of agricultural colleges. The research tools were open-ended questions the validity of which was confirmed by relevant experts. Data collection method included in-depth interviews with 23 faculty members. The statistical population of the research in the quantitative section consists of graduate students of the public agricultural colleges in Iran, whose number equals to 12925, of which 288 were selected from five agricultural colleges (Tehran, Hamedan, Shiraz, Khuzestan and Zabol) using Cochran's formula and stratified random sampling (with proportional assignment). The data collection tool (quantitative part) was a questionnaire the face and content validity of which was confirmed by relevant professors and experts and its reliability was achieved using Cronbach's alpha coefficient (93/0) . The results (of the qualitative part) showed that the model of values can be divided into four categories: moral values (honesty, magnanimity, trustworthiness, tolerance and humility), social values (trust, generosity, cooperation and teamwork, mutual respect, appreciation and responsibility), individual values (moderation, discipline, precision, perseverance, commitment to the rules and lifelong learning) and academic and professional values (entrepreneurship, creativity, food security, respect for rural-agricultural culture, gender justice and agricultural research values).Furthermore, the results of the research (quantitative part) indicates that based on the fit indices, the general structure of the research model is approved and the model obtained from the results of the qualitative part of the research is consistent with reality.