What Can a Borich Needs Assessment Model Tell us about In-Service Training Needs of Faculty in a College of Agriculture? The Case of Iran

Abstract

The purpose of this exploratory case study was to determine current in-service needs of agricultural faculties at Razi University in Kermanshah province in Iran. A descriptive research methodology design was used to conduct the study. The target population of the study consisted of all agricultural faculties in College of Agriculture at Razi University. Based on the Borich Need Assessment Model, a Delphi technique was used to develop 19 competencies needed to assess needs of faculty members (N=108). Using a census population, the perceived level of importance and perceived level of competence of the 19 competencies of the faculty members were measured. Overall in-service needs were analyzed and ranked using Mean Weighted Discrepancy Scores (MWDS). The top five competencies in need by agricultural faculties included integrating sustainability issues into agricultural curriculum (7.75); teaching students problem-solving and decision-making skills (7.22); teaching students to think critically and creatively (6.54); understanding learning styles (5.86); managing student behavior problems (5.23). The result of this study has practical implications for the Human Resource Development (HRD) programs in Razi University. HRD programs should study how the top in-service areas can be addressed in training workshops. Further needs assessment studies need to be implemented using the Borich model across agricultural colleges in Iran in order to build a baseline of research data when designing training workshop.

Keywords:

• Needs assessment
• Agricultural faculty
• Borich model
• In-service training