Explaining the Role of Accreditation in Internationalization of the Higher Education System: A grounded Theory Study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Ph.D. Student in Educational Management, Tehran North Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

2 Ph.D. Student in Educational Management, North Tehran’s Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

3 Assistant Professor, Department of Higher Education Management, Faculty of Management, North Tehran’s branch, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this research was to provide a model for the Role of Higher Education Accreditation with an Emphasis on its Internationalization.
Methods: The research method was qualitative, and 20 university experts were selected by using a targeted and continuous manner and through semi-structured interviews, the codes, concepts and categories of the higher education validation model were identified using the grounded theory method.
Results: The findings showed that based on the degree of conceptual similarity of the codes, 101 codes were extracted and according to their commonality, they were categorized in the form of 62 conceptual clusters and 28 core codes, and finally, the validation model of higher education was designed in the direction of internationalization.
Conclusion: The results obtained from in-depth and semi-structured interviews with 20 experts led to the presentation of a model consisting of 3 causal conditions and 9 intervening factors. Its main phenomenon was quality assurance, both goal and means, which was influenced by 5 environmental conditions of political instability, state economy, social capital, uncertainty avoidance and individualistic cultural contexts. In order to achieve the results obtained in both national and transnational groups, it was necessary to adopt strategies at the university level as well as the government and policy makers.

Keywords


References

Amin Muzaffar, F., Amiri Miandoab, Sh., Abbaszadeh, M., & Alizadeh Aghdam, M. B. (2015). A study of the politicization of higher education system managers with a qualitative approach. Bi-Quarterly Journal of Contemporary Sociological Research, 4(7). (persian)
Bazargan, A. (2013). Educational evaluation. Tehran: Samat Publications. (persian)
Bazargan, A., (1997). Quality and its evaluation in higher education: A look at national and international experiences. Rahyaft  Magazine, 15, 71-60. (persian)
Brennan, J., & Shah, T. (2000). Managing quality in higher education: An international perspective on institutional assessment and change. Open University Press.
Breton, G. (2003). Introduction. Higher Education: From Internationalisation to Globalization. In Breton, G. and Lambert, M.(Ed) (2003). Universities and Globalization; Private Linkages, Public Trust. Paris, Unesco Publishing.
De Wit, H., & Altbach, P. G. (2021). Internationalization in higher education: global trends and recommendations for its future. Policy Reviews in Higher Education5(1), 28-46.
De Wit, H. (2002). Internationalization of higher education in the United States of America and Europe. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press.
Faraskhah, M. (2017). Qualitative research method in social sciences, with emphasis on theory (grounded theory GTM). Tehran: Agah Publications. (persian)
Fazeli, N. (2004). A Look at Globalization and Global Trends in Higher Education Developments and the Status of Higher Education in Iran Conference on Higher Education and Sustainable Development, Higher Education Research and Planning Institute. (persian)
Hatami, J., Mohammadi, R., & Eshaghi, F. (2012). The Structure Challenge for Quality Monitoring and Evaluation in Higher Education in Iran. Fifth Conference on Quality Assessment in the University System, University of Tehran, Campus of Technical Colleges. (persian)
Hosseini Moghadam, M. (2010). A review of the global experience of evaluating the higher education system. Rahyaft Magazine, 46. (persian)
Jang, J. Y. (2009). Analysis of the relationship between internationalization and the quality of higher education. University of Minnesota.
Hushmand Hamedani, N. (2018). The Role of International Interactions in the Quality of Higher Education: The Quality and Internationalization of Higher Education: The First International Conference and the Twelfth National Conference on Quality Evaluation in University Systems, Al-Zahra University Performance Evaluation and Monitoring Center. (persian)
Khadem Mohtaram, K., & Salimi, M. (2019). Evaluation and quality assurance in the higher education system. Bimonthly Journal of Applied Studies in Management & Development Sciences, 15(1), 47-61. (persian)
Khorasani, A., & Zamani Manesh, H. (2016). Effective Strategies in the Internationalization of Iranian Universities and Higher Education Institutions. Education Strategies in Medical Sciences (Educational Strategies), 5(3), 189-183. (persian)
Knight, J. (2004). New rationales driving internationalization. International Higher Education, 34. Doi.org/10.6017/ihe.2004.34.7404
Kushazadeh, F., Akbari, A., Maqool, A., & Kushazadeh, A. (2020). Designing the university scientific authority model; Identification of dimensions and elements (Case study: Imam Reza International University). Bi-Quarterly Journal of Management in Islamic University, 9(1), 122-107. (persian)
Lapina, I., Roga, R., & Müürsepp, P. (2016). Quality of higher education: International students’ satisfaction and learning experience. International Journal of Quality & Service Sciences, 8(3), 263- 278.
Leusenkamp, E. M. M. (2017). Internationalization and quality of higher education, a closer look at the impact of cultural diversity. Bachelor's thesis, University of Twente.
Malekinia, E., Malekinia, Z., & Faizi, S. (2018). Strategies Needed by Iran's Higher Education System in the Age of Globalization. Macro Strategic Policies Quarterly, 6(4), 545-518. (persian)
Mohseni, H. S. (2017). Pathology of Scientific-International Cooperation in Iranian Higher Education. Social-Cultural Strategy Quarterly, 6(22), 281-259. (persian)
Motova, G., & Navodnov, V. (2020). Twenty years of accreditation in Russian higher education: lessons learnt. Higher Education Evaluation & Development, 14(1), 33- 51.
Nazarzadeh Zare, M., & Naderi, A. (2015). Higher Education with the Approach of Knowledge Economy for Educating Human Capital. Rahyaft, 25(58), 85 - 98.
Qalavandi, H., Hassani, M., & Moradi, Z. (2018). Analysis and evaluation of the position of the country's universities in the indicators of internationalization of higher education from the perspective of students: (Case study of the University of Tehran). Journal of Management of Government Organizations, 6, 157-173. (persian)
Oyewole, O. (2009). Internationalization and its implications for the quality of higher education in Africa. Higher Education Policy, 22(3), 319-329.
Sadeghimandi, F., Mohammadi, R. & Zamanifar, M. (2018). The role of regional and international quality evaluation and quality assurance institutions in the development of quality of higher education systems. The first international conference and the twelfth national conference on quality evaluation in university systems, Al-Zahra University Performance Evaluation and Monitoring Center.  (persian)
Sadeghi, M., & Yazdanfar, S. (2016). Sustainability Assessment in Iranian Higher Education: Identifying the Appropriate Pattern in Islamic Azad University. Quarterly Journal of Law Enforcement Education, 3(12), 173-139. (persian)
Salas, R. (2014). The Rationales and Strategies of Internationalization in Higher Education: A Comparative Study of the University at Albany, SUNY and the University of Oslo (Master's thesis).
Samadi Miar Kalai, H., & Samadi Miar Kalai, H. (2012). Mutual expectations of university and industry in a knowledge-based economy. National Conference on Entrepreneurship and Management of Knowledge-Based Businesses. (persian)
Seeber, M., Cattaneo, M., Huisman, J., & Paleari, S. (2016). Why do higher education institutions internationalize? An investigation of the multilevel determinants of internationalization rationales. Higher Education, 72(5), 685-702.
Selajgeh, A., Farajollahi, M., Musapour, N. and Sarmadi, M. R. (2017). Explain and validate the components and indicators of internationalization of virtual colleges. Journal of Educational Strategies in Medical Sciences, 6(10), 541-526. (persian)
Shekarriz, Z., &  Shekarriz, F. (2018). The role of internationalization of education in improving the quality and effectiveness of higher education. The First International Conference and the Twelfth National Conference on Quality Evaluation in University Systems, Al-Zahra University Performance Evaluation and Monitoring Center. (persian)
Tavassoliyan, F. (2016). Internationalization of Universities, National Congress of Higher Education of Iran. (persian)
Tawfiqi Darian, J. (2009). The need to improve quality in higher education. Journal of Industry & University, 2(5,6), 199-153. (persian)
Tran, L. T., & Marginson, S. (Editors) (2018). Internationalisation in Vietnamese higher education. Springer.
Vahdat, M. A., & Olya, M. S. (2003). Information technology and higher education in the book: Encyclopaedia of Higher Education. By Nadergholi Ghorchian and others, Tehran: Farsi Encyclopaedia Foundation.
Vaira, M. (2004). Globalization and higher education organizational change: A framework for analysis. Higher Education48(4), 483-510.
Van der Wende, M. (2007). Internationalization of higher education in the OECD countries: Challenges and opportunities for the coming decade. Journal of Studies in International Education, 11(3-4), 274-289.
Verbik, L., & Lasanowski, V. (2007). International student mobility: patterns and trends. World Education News and Reviews, 20(10), 1-16.
Yamanidoozi Sorkhabi, M. (2018). Quality in higher education. Tehran: Organization for the Study and Compilation of University Humanities Books (Samt). (persian)
Zeinabadi, H., Kiamanesh, A. and F., V. (2005). Assessing the internal quality of the counseling and guidance group of Tarbiat Moallem University of Tehran in order to propose a model for improving the quality and moving towards the accreditation of counseling and guidance groups in the country, New Journal & Counseling Research, 4(15). (persian)