Designing the model of Fourth-generation University to Improve Education and Research Quality in Higher Education

Abstract

Fourth generation universities, while examining current and future physical trends and identifying the strengths and weaknesses, have led the university in a direction where the university can achieve its proper position in the global arena. This study aimed to model the role of transcendental university (fourth generation university) in order to improve the quality of education and research in higher education. Hence, the research design was qualitative with grounded theory. Using the rich information sampling method, in-depth interviews were conducted with 15 professors with more than 20 years of experience in educational management and educational sciences realms in higher education centers of Mazandaran province. Next, the results showed that the model of transcendental university (fourth generation university) in order to improve the quality of education and research had 15 dimensions in terms of causal conditions (1. Scientific-social responsibility, 2. Environmental dynamics, 3. Organizational mission), contextual conditions (4. Organizational structure and values, 5. Facilities and equipment, 6. Motivation), Intervention conditions (7. Communication with industry, 8. Organization of educational content, 9. Empowerment of libraries), Strategy (10. Total quality management, 11. Development of disciplines and mutual cooperation, 12. Faculty participation in decision making, 13. Interaction and teamwork) and Outcome (14. Educational quality and 15. Research quality). Considering the cultural mission of universities in preparing students to face the realities of society and the need for endogenousness and development of interactive relations with the economic, political, cultural and social system, therefore, the movement of higher education towards fourth generation universities in the direction of improving the quality of research and education seems to be very important and necessary.