ABSTRACT Despite the extensive literature concerning university missions such as education, research, and service, providing a coherent view of how universities contribute to society's economic, social, political, and cultural (ESPC) spheres is rare. Therefore, this study is dedicated to understanding the university's economic, social, political, and cultural missions in Iranian society. To achieve this, the researchers have conducted a comprehensive study of the missions of universities in Iran, serving as a valuable case study. This qualitative research used the qualitative survey strategy. The researcher interviewed 23 experts in the national university system to gather data and then conducted a thematic analysis of the interview data. The case study shows that Iranian universities have diverse missions, including two economic, one social, two political, and two cultural missions, but limited contributions to society development (desire-refusal paradox). The research highlights the crucial role of society's demand characteristics in shaping the extent of university contribution to development. This influence is more significant than the efforts to diversify and update university missions. A low level of society's demand for science and technology, or minimal stakeholder participation in shaping university missions, can severely constrain the realization of various university mission types. Therefore, By providing an integrated view, this study underscores the necessity of developing policies that not only expand university missions but also foster the level of society's demand for these fields. This approach will help bridge the supply-demand gap and enhance the university's contribution to society's development.
Read full abstract