Volume 0, Issue 0 (ARTICLES IN PRESS 2024)
Abstract
This research aimed to explain and validate the green curriculum’s (GC) characteristics based on the critical competencies of education for the 21st century. Hence, a mixed research method was used. In the qualitative section, being used for identifying characteristics of GC, experts who have scientific experience(s) related to sustainability in Iran's higher education system were selected using snowball sampling, data were collected and analyzed through semi-structured interviews and content analysis, respectively. The validity of the identified GC characteristics was examined quantitatively based on the Lawshe method. In this section, based on the Lawshe method, 40 faculty members and doctoral students in educational sciences were selected using simple random sampling to evaluate the characteristics’ appropriateness by a three-level scale. Based on the results, 50 characteristics were extracted from the interviews and the documents. However, two of them were not acceptable based on the Lawshe method. Moreover, results revealed that each of the five competencies defined for education in the 21st century (including learning to know, learning to be, learning to do, learning to live together, and learning to transform oneself and society) is aligned with several characteristics of the green curriculum. Finally, some of our suggestions to operationalize the mentioned competencies in the format of GC can be offered as follow; considering environmental management in academic curricula in various fields, defining practical projects for students to apply whatever they have learned, encouraging students to communicate with environmental organizations, and also global research communities to widen their horizons toward environmental issues.
Volume 19, Issue 3 (5-2017)
Abstract
As an assessment method of the water resources, Water Poverty Index (WPI) has become an available tool in water resources management. In particular, Agricultural Water Poverty Index (AWPI) is an assessment tool for agricultural water in rural areas. During the past decades, Mahidasht Basin in Kermanshah Province has been declared by water policy makers as “forbidden” basin in terms of water exploitation. Therefore, effective water resource management in the basin is deemed important. AWPI provides an appropriate tool in managing water resources more effectively. AWPI is an extension of Water Poverty Index (WPI) with five components including resources, access, use, capacity, and environment. This study sought to investigate the Agricultural Water Poverty Index in Mahidasht Basin in Kermanshah Province. Results revealed that Mahidasht Basin is faced with severe Agricultural Water Poverty (AWP= 49.06). Moreover, although farmers had limited water resources (R= 27.4) but these limited resources were highly accessible (A= 74.9). The result of this study has practical implications for water policy makers in Kermanshah Province. For example, agricultural policy makers can use the result of this study to devise better policies to alleviate agricultural water poverty in Mahidasht Basin where it is faced with water crisis.
Volume 24, Issue 4 (7-2022)
Abstract
Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) technologies are introduced to increase agricultural productivity and improve farmers’ adaptation to climate change. Several factors influence the extent to which farmers in a particular location adopt CSA technologies. Due to the importance of financial issues, this study aimed to analyze farmers’ agreement to apply and pay for these technologies in Iran. Accordingly, the study population was farmers at Aq Qala County in the north of Iran (N= 5,447). The sample size was estimated using the Bartlett Table (n= 119), and participants were selected through a simple random sampling method. The list of appropriate CSA technologies was prepared using a relevant article and adjusted to the local condition by the agricultural experts’ comments in the research area. Results indicated that farmers’ agreement is mainly higher than their willingness to pay for CSA technology. Specifically, they prefer to pay for technologies with low cost and short-term benefits (e.g., minimum tillage, cover crops method, concentrate feeding for livestock, and crop insurance). Results of this study have practical implications for agricultural agencies in climate change adaptation planning at local level in that farmers should be trained to use low cost practices when they apply CSA practices. Moreover, allocating subsidies to some CSA technologies could be another suggestion to improve climate change management in Iran.
