The role of agricultural colleges in the economic development of the agricultural sector with a knowledge-based transformation approach

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 , Department of Agricultural Management and Development, Faculty of Agricultural Economics and Development, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

2 Department of Agricultural Management and Development, Faculty of Agricultural Economics and Development, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

10.22059/ijaedr.2022.334399.669107

Abstract

Due to technological development, today the development of the agricultural sector is possible only through an innovative economy and the knowledge-based production. In this regard, in developed societies, agricultural colleges play an important role in terms of intellectual leadership for the development of agricultural knowledge base, but in Iran, despite the valuable role that agricultural colleges have played in providing agricultural expertise, the knowledge-based approach to the transformation of the agricultural sector is not yet seriously on the agenda of agricultural colleges and their fruits are not visible in the country. This article, which examines the issue with an analytical approach, has come to the conclusion that in order to play the technological role of agricultural colleges and benefit from the knowledge-based economy in Iran's agricultural development, on the one hand requires structural changes in the functions of agricultural colleges from mere training of agricultural specialists (first generation colleges) and conducting research with traditional approaches (second generation colleges) to training specialized and efficient entrepreneurs in the agricultural sector (third generation colleges) and the development of smart technologies and agricultural knowledge bases (fourth generation colleges). On the other hand, the mission-oriented nature of agricultural colleges to meet the current needs of the agricultural community is one of the requirements to play an effective role in the academic society of the country in the development of knowledge-based agricultural sector. Thus, national missions for top universities and regional and provincial missions for other universities should be on the agenda.

Keywords

Iranian Journal of Agricultural Economics and Development Research
Volume 56, Issue 3
February 2026
Pages 161-178

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