This study comprises an initial attempt to gain insight into how higher agricultural education institutions can revitalize their curricula to better prepare their student for the market place and to keep pace with the changing nature of the environment around them. This study was undertaken in two phases. The first phase used qualitative approach to explore the followings: 1- Competencies most important to entrepreneurial success in the Iranian agricultural context as perceived by entrepreneurs; 2- The methods and sources which have been utilized by the entrepreneurs graduated from the Iranian higher agricultural education system to develop the entrepreneurial competencies in themselves.3- The role of and the strategies can be used by the Iranian higher agricultural education system to prepare students for an entrepreneurial career in agriculture. In the second phase of the research, a questionnaire was constructed to test the robustness of the qualitative data on a larger population. The questionnaire was validated by a 5 member panel of experts. The sample for the second phase was composed of 72 successful businesses with 103 team-members graduated from the Iranian higher agricultural education system. The findings suggest that the most important competency for entrepreneurial success is technical and specialized knowledge and skills in the area of business activity. It was found that the primary method useful for mastering entrepreneurial competencies is practical, hands-on, and real-world experience.The findings also suggest that the higher agricultural education in Iran has not played a significant role in developing the identified entrepreneurial competencies in alumni entrepreneurs. Practical experience in successful enterprises under mentoring of the entrepreneurs that require individuals to practice entrepreneurship is proven to be the most useful strategy to infuse entrepreneurial competencies in students.
