Who are the educators participating in agricultural industry school partnerships?

Purpose Little is known about the educators who participate in agricultural industry school partnerships (ISPs) and how to best support them to implement associated activities. This research explores the nature of educators who were willing to partake in agricultural ISPs by understanding what relevant experience they had, their perceptions of agriculture, and the support they need to participate. Design/methodology/approach A descriptive mixed-methods case study design was used to collect survey data from 57 educators from 2021–2023. Findings This study finds that the educators had diverse teaching experiences and connections to agriculture. Most educators had positive perceptions of the industry and career opportunities. However, educators required further support to enable their participation in ISPs. Their connection to agriculture, experience incorporating food and fibre concepts, and previous participation in ISPs were generally not associated with their perception of agriculture, or support required to implement an ISP. Originality/value This paper contributes to the literature on ISPs by considering how educators can contribute, and be supported to contribute, to these activities to encourage students' early career learning and aspiration. These partnerships, especially in the agriculture industry, are under-researched. This paper explores a stakeholder group that has not previously been examined in this context, providing an original contribution to the sector.