Searching on a Model for Sustainable Agricultural Higher Education Center (SAHEC)

This research has used a mixed methodology with both quantitative and qualitative approaches. The study population included three groups; the post-graduate students, professors and academic staff at two universities, Khouzestan Ramin Agriculture and Natural Resources University and Bu-Ali Sina University. For collecting quantitative data among 320 students, 175 were selected using random sampling and based on the Morgan table. In order to collect qualitative data, 41 professors and academic staff of the two universities were selected based on a criterion purposeful sampling. Gathering tool in quantitative part was a questionnaire including three-parts. The questionnaire's reliability was tested by Cronbach's Alpha technique and the total mean reliability of scales was 84% (α=0.84). For collecting qualitative data, semi-structured interviews were used. A summarized content analysis was used in order to analyze the interviews' data. Quantitative data analysis was conducted in two parts: descriptive and analytical. Results showed that a sustainable agricultural higher education needs a series of factors, characteristics and conditions. These factors at economic, social, cultural, and environmental dimensions include: financial and credit, employment and entrepreneurship, the agricultural productivity, social issues, building culture, and environmental awareness. Results also indicated that a sustainable university should address four elements of education, research, management and planning, and outreach programs in a pool of two-way communication between these elements and the real needs of society and environment.