As the role of universities in the continuing education of the workforce and new graduates has grown, the present study aimed at examining the cooperative relationship between Faculty of Agriculture, Alexandria University and employers in selected fields of interest. These were Horticulture, Food Industries, and Animal Production. The specific objectives included:
1- Examining and evaluating examples of the training programs offered by professors, as experts and trainers throughout (2012-2016) to professionals and new graduates in selected business and agricultural development projects, in Alexandria and El beheira Governorates, 2- Exploring the reactions of the professors, as trainers, toward the studied cooperative relationship, including their perceptions of the benefits and challenges of such a relationship.
Drawing upon the data base of the Faculty of Agriculture concerning the offered training programs in relation to the research objectives, a purposive sample comprised of (18) professors, as trainers, were selected. Using indepth interviews, data were collected from (12) professors as primary source of information for this study (from December, 2016 to April, 2017). Qualitative and content analysis were mainly used for the purpose of data analysis.
The major findings of the study could be summarized as follows:
1- Evaluation of the studied training programs revealed that:
a- All of the training programs (9 programs) were satisfying the criteria of continuing professional education (CPE) interms of “presenting new concepts or technology, and “the interaction between the trainer and trainees in the learning situations".
b. The criterion pertaining to “developing the value of self-directed learning" was evidenced in 7 programs.
2- Reactions of the professors, as trainers toward the studied cooperative relationship revealed that:
a. The major perceived benefits included: sharing in the development and renewal of the faculty research labs, as well as crystallizing researchable points, and developing research proposals for funding.
b. The main perceived challenges included: lack of identifying trainees levels of knowledge prior to planning the training programs, and lack of interaction and keeping in touch between trainees and trainers, upon the termination of the programs.
Recommendations to enhance future cooperative relationships were noted.