Factors Affecting the Perceived Employability of Agricultural Students at Lorestan University: An Application of the Modified CareerEDGE Model

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Fatemeh Rahimi
Saeed Gholamrezai
Afshin Sardareh
Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, Faculty of Agriculture, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Islamic Republic of Iran.
Abstract
One of the key concerns of higher education institutions is the professional status and employability of students. Therefore, the concept of student employability has become the center of attention and needs to be examined. This study aimed to investigate the factors affecting the perceived employability of agricultural students at Lorestan University. To achieve this purpose, the modified CareerEDGE model was used. The statistical population of the study was agricultural students at Lorestan University. A proportionally allocated multi-stage stratified sample of 270 students was selected. Data were collected using a questionnaire developed from the relevant literature. The content validity of the instrument was rigorously assessed by a panel of subject-matter experts, consisting of faculty members from the Faculty of Agriculture at Lorestan University, representing diverse academic disciplines. Following their feedback, the questionnaire was refined to ensure its relevance to the agricultural context. The pilot study, conducted with 30 respondents, demonstrated satisfactory internal consistency, with Cronbach’s alpha coefficients ranging from 0.715 to 0.833. A comparative analysis of structural models revealed that the direct effects model provides a more robust and parsimonious explanation of perceived employability than the mediation model. This conclusion is supported by the direct model’s superior explanatory power (R²= 0.516) and the non-significant mediating role of self-efficacy, indicating that the exogenous constructs are associated with perceived employability primarily through direct pathways. The findings provide educational policies and suggestions for improving students' employability.
Keywords
College students
CareerEDGE Model
Lorestan University
Perceived employability
Subjects
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Available Online from 02 September 2026