Identifying Employability Components in the Curriculum of Agricultural Fields: A Research Synthesis Based on Roberts' Model

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Birjand, Birjand, Iran.

2 Department of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Birjand, Birjand. Iran.

Abstract

This study aimed to identify employability components in the curricula of agricultural fields using a research synthesis method based on the six-stage Roberts model. Despite extensive emphasis on the importance of graduate employability, previous studies have been predominantly scattered and lacked an integrated framework. To address this gap, 31 relevant studies, including 26 international and 5 domestic, were identified through a systematic search in reputable domestic and international databases and analyzed using qualitative content analysis and three-stage coding (open, axial, and selective). The findings revealed that employability components can be categorized into four main dimensions: the individual dimension (including career orientation, psychological capital, and personal competencies); the interpersonal dimension (including communication competencies, interpersonal networks, and team leadership abilities); the skill-based dimension (including soft skills, technical competencies, entrepreneurial competencies, and experiential learning); and the environmental dimension (including social capital, university-industry linkage, and career guidance). These dimensions interact to provide a comprehensive framework for enhancing employability. The findings indicate that the multi-dimensional components of employability must be integrated systematically and coherently into the process of designing and developing curricula for agricultural fields. Revising curricula based on this comprehensive framework can reduce the existing gap between academic education content and real labor market requirements and play a significant role in promoting sustainable graduate employability. Such an approach not only creates greater alignment between educational objectives and market needs but also paves the way for developing professional capacities and the long-term empowerment of graduates in agricultural disciplines.

Keywords

References

Adejoh, S., et al. (2016). Assessment of students' attitude towards agricultural science subject in secondary schools in Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria. https://doi.org/10.18819/IJAVS.2016.1548
Aghapour, S., Mohammadi, H. M., & Shabanali Fami, H. (2014). Investigating the status of employability in the curriculum of graduate students in agricultural fields at the University of Tehran. Iranian Journal of Agricultural Economics and Development Research, 45(4), 683-692. (In Persian). https://doi.org/10.22059/ijaedr.2014.53842
Ahmadvand, M., & Azizifar, A. (2025). Explaining the obstacles to the development of agricultural entrepreneurship from the viewpoints of agricultural graduates in the Kohgiluyeh Region. Journal of Entrepreneurial Strategies in Agriculture, 12(1), 49-63. (In Persian). https://doi.org/10.61186/jea.2024.402
Ajao, H., Alegbeleye, I. D., & Westfall-Rudd, D. (2022). Curriculum design in an agricultural education program in Nigeria: Towards advancing career readiness. Advancements in Agricultural Development, 3(2), 17–30. https://doi.org/10.37433/aad.v3i2.159
Armoogum, N. Y., Ramasawmy, B., & Driver, B. M. F. (2016). The need to enhance the employability competences (knowledge, skills, autonomy, and attitudes) of undergraduates in agriculture: Evidence from students' perceptions and employers' expectations. Tuning Journal for Higher Education, 4(1), 169–219. https://doi.org/10.18543/tjhe-4(1)-2016pp169-219
Aumjaud, B., Ramasawmy, B., Driver, B., & Ramful-Baboolall, D. (2023). Higher education student work placement and employability. In Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Higher Education Advances (HEAd'23) (741–748). https://doi.org/10.4995/HEAd23.2023.16275
Azizi-Khalkheili, T., & Menatizadeh, M. (2019). The occupation of agricultural graduates: The analysis of the students' attitude of Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University. Journal of Entrepreneurial Strategies in Agriculture, 6(12), 22–34. (In Persian). https://doi.org/10.52547/jea.6.12.22
Bakari, H., & Khoso, I. (2017). Psychological determinants of graduate employability: A comparative study of business and agriculture students across Pakistan. Business & Economic Review, 9(4), 113–140. https://doi.org/10.22547/BER/9.4.6
Bianchim, M. S., France, E. F., & Noyes, J. (2024). Using visual methods to further enhance qualitative evidence synthesis. Cochrane Evidence Synthesis and Methods, 2(12), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1002/cesm.70009
Bodescu, D., Sîrghea, A., Rațu, R. N., Chiruță, C., Mălăncuș, R.-N., Donosă, D., & Robu, A.-D. (2024). Relevant skills for employment and entrepreneurship in the agri-food sector. Sustainability, 16(2), 787. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16020787
Cheng, M., Adekola, O., Albia, J., & Cai, S. (2022). Employability in higher education: A review of key stakeholders' perspectives. Higher Education Evaluation and Development, 16(1), 16-31. https://doi.org/10.1108/HEED-03-2021-0025
Choi-Lundberg, D., Douglas, T., Bird, M.-L., Coleman, B., Greenwood, M., Martin, R., Prior, S., Saghafi, F., Roehrer, E., Waddingham, S., Wolsey, C., & Kelder, J.-A. (2024). Employability learning and teaching research. Journal of University Learning and Teaching Practice, 21(5), 1–38. https://doi.org/10.53761/g8mryt
Cook, E. J. (2022). A narrative review of graduate employability models. Journal of Teaching and Learning for Graduate Employability, 13(1), 37-64. https://doi.org/10.21153/jtlge2022vol13no1art1483
Cooper, H., Hedges, L. V., & Valentine, J. C. (Eds.). (2019). The handbook of research synthesis and meta-analysis (3rd ed.). Russell Sage Foundation.
Ebner, P., Thompson, L., Ghimire, R., Dissanayake, D. G., Joshi, N., & Saleh, W. D. (2020). Employability of Egyptian agriculture university graduates: Skills gaps. Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education, 27(4), 128-143. https://doi.org/10.5191/jiaee.2020.274128
Edziwa, X., & Blignaut, S. (2022). Graduate employability skills: The voice of ATVET students in Zimbabwe. South African Journal of Higher Education, 36(2), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.20853/36-2-4501
Fifani, S., Rabhi, D., & Qachar, A. (2025). What can universities do to enhance the employability of their graduates. South Florida Journal of Development, 6(3), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.46932/sfjdv6n3-013
Garwe, E. C. (2015). Trends in student enrolments in agricultural degree programmes in Zimbabwe. Global Journal of Educational Studies, 1(1), 62–75. https://doi.org/10.5296/GJES.V1I1.7615
Ghimire, R., et al. (2022). Ready for a career in the agriculture sector in Egypt. Education Sciences, 12(10), 713. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci12100713
Gholami, H., Alambeigi, A., & Pouratashi, M. (2019). The impact of extracurricular activities on the employability of students in agricultural fields. Journal of Entrepreneurship and Agricultural Development, 6(1), 83-100. (In Persian). https://doi.org/10.22069/jead.2020.18250.1422
Gholami, H., Ghasemi, J., & Afzali Goroh, A. (2020). The analysis of agricultural students' employability. Journal of Entrepreneurial Strategies in Agriculture, 7(13), 114-126. (In Persian). https://doi.org/10.52547/jea.7.13.114
Haryanta, D., Bahtiar, R. S., & Popiyanto, Y. (2025). Efforts to improve the quality of agricultural education graduates as preparation for entering the workforce. International Journal of Curriculum Development, Teaching and Learning Innovation, 3(2), 80–87. https://doi.org/10.35335/curriculum.v3i2.241
Hegerfeld-Baker, J., Droke, L., Pallapu, P., & Anand, S. (2016). Factors influencing choice of food safety related career path: An online focus group study. NACTA Journal, 60(1), 1–8. https://www.jstor.org/stable/nactajournal.60.1.1
Hejazi, Y., Gholami, H., Hosseini, S. M., & Rezvanfar, A. (2018). Role of social capital in the employability of agricultural students. Iranian Journal of Agricultural Economics and Development Research, 49(2), 545-558. (In Persian). https://doi.org/10.22059/ijaedr.2018.4
Helens-Hart, R. (2019). Career education discourse: Promoting student employability. Qualitative Research in Education, 8(1), 1-26. https://doi.org/10.17583/qre.2019.3706
Institute for Research & Planning in Higher Education. (2024). Monitoring the employment of graduates of the 2019-2020 academic year of higher education (1st ed.). Institute for Research & Planning in Higher Education. (In Persian).
Jackson, D. (2024). The relationship between student employment, employability-building activities and graduate outcomes. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 48(1), 14-30. https://doi.org/10.1080/0309877X.2023.2253426
Jordaan, J. W., Du Preez, L., & Keyter, M. (2024). Enhancing work-readiness and employability of agricultural graduates. Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Agriculture, 9(1), 16-30. https://doi.org/10.17501/26827018.2024.9102
Karimi, S., et al. (2024). The relationship between career-related social support and self-perceived employability. Journal of Education and Work, 37, 503-521. https://doi.org/10.1080/13639080.2025.2472136
Kiliswa, I., Udoto, M. O., & Konyango, J. J. O. (2016). Tracer study of Bachelor of Science in agricultural education and extension graduates: Class of 2008 – Egerton University. Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research, 2(8), 1080–1085. http://www.onlinejournal.in/IJIRV2I8/179.pdf
Kim, K., et al. (2021). Factors associated with employment intentions of agriculture school students in South Korea. The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension, 28, 459-477. https://doi.org/10.1080/1389224X.2021.1942091
Koç, E. S. (2024). Educational reforms and curricula in developing countries: Educational policies and socioeconomic consequences. Journal of Digital Education and E-Learning Reviews, 1(1), 1–25. https://doi.org/10.64561/jdelrv1i1-001-2508061224081
 
Menon, K., & Castrillón, G. (2022). "Reschooling" higher education: The dynamics of curriculum in South Africa. In International Encyclopedia of Education (4th ed., pp. 48-56). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-818630-5.02149-7
Mwebia, L., & Kyuli, K. C. (2016). Influence of university curriculum design on employability of Kenyan graduates. Journal of Advance Research in Business Management and Accounting, 2(1), 12-16. https://doi.org/10.53555/nnbma.v2i1.111
Olowa, O. W., Olowa, O. A., Umoru, J. I. A., & Ayejuyo, B. S. (2022). Assessing the employability skills of agriculture graduates in tertiary institutions in Ogun State. Shodh Sari: An International Multidisciplinary Journal, 1(1), 26-38. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7747697
Ouraich, I., et al. (2017). Employment prospects for agricultural graduates in Guinea Conakry. Journal of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, 9(1), 5-13. https://doi.org/10.5897/JAERD2016.0804
Pai, S., & Mayya, S. (2022). A systematic literature review on training higher education students for soft skills. International Journal of Management, Technology, and Social Sciences, 7(2), 97-142. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6958964
Parilla, E. S., & Evangelista, J. (2025). From campus to career: A qualitative exploration of graduate employability. Advanced Qualitative Research, 3(1). https://doi.org/10.31098/aqr.v3i1.2818
Parrella, J., et al. (2023). Preparing agricultural leaders: An assessment of agricultural students' perceived importance and development of employability skills. The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension, 30, 233-255. https://doi.org/10.1080/1389224X.2023.2179086
Parsa, A., Akidi, M., & Elhampoor, H. (2020). The role of curricula in the development of job skills. Agricultural Education Management Research, 12(53), 162-183. (In Persian). https://doi.org/10.22092/jaear.2021.351420.1749
Pouratashi, M. (2018). Evaluation of strengths and solutions for enhancing the employability of agricultural students. Agricultural Education Management Research, 10, 18-31. (In Persian). https://doi.org/10.22092/jaear.2018.117904
Pratley, J. (2015). Agricultural education and damn stats II: Graduate employment and salaries. Agricultural Science, 27(1), 51-55.
Roberts, N., Galluch, P. S., Dinger, M., & Grover, V. (2012). Absorptive capacity and information systems research. MIS Quarterly, 36(2), 625-648.
Salameh, M., Karami, M., Mehram, B., & Khandaghi, A. (2020). A comparative study of employment competencies of undergraduate course of educational sciences in Iran and Syria. Iranian Journal of Comparative Education, 3(2), 704-723. (In Persian). https://doi.org/10.22034/IJCE.2020.212361.1080
Sanka, S. S., Kyaruzi, A. A., & Madaha, R. M. (2025). From classroom to entrepreneurship: Assessing knowledge and skills for agricultural self-employment. International Journal of Education and Social Science Research, 8(1), 111-134. https://doi.org/10.37500/IJESSR.2025.8108
Sebastian, S. (2020). Employability skills: A perception of agricultural students, graduates and employers. Journal of Extension Education, 32(2), 6508-6514. https://doi.org/10.26725/JEE.2020.2.32.6508-6514
Seti, T. M., Ngqulana, A., & Sindesi, O. A. (2025). Industry perceptions of employability skills for agricultural graduates. SA Journal of Industrial Psychology, 51, Article a2214. https://doi.org/10.4102/sajip.v51i0.2214
Sharma, D. (2025). The cause of rising youth unemployment in developing countries. International Journal for Research Trends in Social Science and Humanities, 3(2), 1025-1038. https://doi.org/10.61463/ijrtssh.vol.3.issue2.158
Short, Edmund C. (Ed.). (2008). Methodology of curriculum studies (M. Mehr Mohammadi et al., Trans.). Research Institute of Education Studies; SAMT. (Original work published 1991).
Shinwari, S., Sadat, A., Mohammadi, Y., & Salihi, M. S. (2023). Strategic analysis of agriculture students' employability by SWOT technic. Journal for Research in Applied Sciences and Biotechnology, 2(3), 100–105. https://doi.org/10.55544/jrasb.2.3.13
Taraz, A., Samari, M., & Keyhan, J. (2022). Presenting a model for coordinating undergraduate curricula in agricultural education and extension. Agricultural Education Management Research, 60, 110-133. (In Persian). https://sid.ir/paper/1058945/fa
Tight, M. (2023). Employability: A core role of higher education? Research in Post-Compulsory Education, 28(4), 551-571. https://doi.org/10.1080/13596748.2023.2253649
Wilkes, J., & Burns, A. (2019). A decade of agriculture graduates’ employability and career pathways. International Journal of Innovation in Science and Mathematics Education, 27(4), 2–13. https://doi.org/10.30722/ijisme.27.04.001
Social Business Journal
Volume 3, Issue 2
June 2026
Pages 20-41

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics