Introduction

The SANRU’s Department of Agricultural Extension and Education started its activity in the academic year 2013-2014, with the assistance of two professors in the field of agricultural extension and education. The department has currently two full-time assistant professors who have been graduated from some of the best Iranian universities. The first students of the department were graded in 2017 at the bachelor level. It should be noted that in 2016- due to the revisions made by the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology the title of the discipline was changed from "agricultural extension and education" to "sustainable agricultural education and extension" at the BS level. The discipline, as the major, included the following six minors: “Animal Science,” “Plant Protection,” "Agricultural Machinery,” “Horticulture,” “Agronomy” and “Soil sciences.”

 The primary mission of the department is: to develop the knowledge, attitude, and skills of the graduates in the field of agricultural extension and education. It is aimed at promoting a comprehensive development of the agriculture, and the rural society in Iran. The program is mainly focused on the development of the northern region of the country as the central pillar of livestock farming and natural resources. The graduates would be creative with entrepreneurial spirits. They will be empowered both in theory and practice and could turn into the source of positive influences and effective services for rural society and agriculture.

The other missions of the department include:

• To perform demand-driven and applied research regarding the issues and problems, facing the local agricultural sector and rural community;
• To disseminate the research findings to the local community and target audiences via external education; and
• To maintain effective communication with other departments towards the diffusion of their achievements and innovations to the community.

 The department is currently working and teaching students using specific educational media.