فصلنامه آموزش مهندسی ایران
پیاپی 65 (بهار 1394)

Mechatronics is a discipline that combines elements from mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and computer science. The basic elements of the topic can easily be grasped by undergraduate students. The full potential of mechatronics is realized if the approach is from an integrated standpoint from the start. While, traditional engineering curricula is either based on science or analysis; mechatronics tends to reject such a rigid compartmentalization of engineering. Since, mechatronics is undergoing a process of evolution in Iran in an amorphous state, it is imperative for academic institutions to introduce equally quick changes in their curricula. The objectives of the present paper, therefore, are twofold: first, to sum up the understanding of mechatronics as gathered from and operative in academic institutions and industrial environments worldwide view into a new comprehensive definition of mechatronics. Second, to propose a design-oriented model curriculum based on the new definition of mechatronics. Our experience in robotic BSc programs at Shah Rood University of Technology has also been helpful in the process of the study.

Considering the role of the academic education in the national scientific and industrial developments, as well as technological advancements, the developed countries experiences and educational systems in nanotechnology disciplines, especially, in the undergraduate level are discussed. The details of nanotechnology educational systems in the model countries such as United States, Denmark, England and Australia are presented and compared, and the course syllabus of the related disciplines in the undergraduate level are given in the present study. Nanotechnology education in South Korea, as a successful educational model, is presented and discussed. The collaboration between different science and engineering faculties as well as nanotechnology research centers is needed for the development of nanotechnology education due to its interdisciplinary nature. The significance of establishing nanotechnology education at undergraduate level to maintain and enhance the position of our country in the world ranking of nano-science and technology development, demands for the construction of hardware and software infrastructures in approving the related disciplines and its development are explaind.

The history of physics concepts is the study of nature and natural phenomena. In this paper, the of views of several ancient Iranian scholars and philosophers, who in many centuries have been known for their vast scientific research and outlooks in Iran, will be discussed. These points are matter, space, time, motion, light (with emphasis on optical tools, reflection, refraction, rainbow, …), and subjects such as astrology and astronomy (study of astrolabe and observatory, …), calendar and chronology, music and sound, science of measurement (time, weight and scale, density, …) earthquake, weather (rain, snow, lightening, …) and magnetism. These studies are purely described through today’s physics and natural studies of the older days. One should bear in mind that their views were more of a philosophical approach rather than purely scientific. We hope to shed a light on the influence of ancient Iranian scholars on physics and natural studies for our contemporary scientists.

Science and engineering courses normally have components like practical work, laboratory experience and homework. Presently, this part of engineering education is mainly carried out by teaching assistants (TA). Although teaching assistants spend most number of hours with engineering students, they normally receive no training for effective class management and teaching. To improve the quality of education offered by TAs, the University College of Engineering at University of Tehran has launched a series of teaching workshops, presented by qualified professors. Since the beginning of this program in 2012, over 390 TAs of engineering programs have attended nine workshops. The information derived from the questionnaires filled at the end of each workshop reveal the main challenges and needs of the TAs. Based on the results of those questionnaire surveys and findings of similar programs in other countries, this paper presents a teaching program developed for TAs of engineering programs of Iran. To this end, a half a day workshop has been designed through which the TAs are introduced to the fundamentals of successful teaching-learning.

This study has been carried out with the aim of studying the relationship between spiritual wellness and self-efficacy of students. Research method was descriptive and co. relational. Participants of research consisted of 400 male and female students of bachelor’s degree of the faculty of psychology and educational sciences and engineering of Sistan-va-Baloochestan University. A total of 190 students were selected according to Morgan table based on stratified random sampling. Paloutzian & Ellison Spiritual Well-being Questionnaire (1982) and Sherrer et al. Self-efficacy Questionnaire (1982) were used to gather information. The obtained information was assessed according to Pierson correlation coefficient and stepwise regression. Results of study showed that there was a significant correlation between spiritual well-being and self-efficacy. Results of stepwise regression analysis indicated that as one of the subscales of spiritual health, physical health was the best predictor of students’ self-efficacy. Moreover, results of independent test showed that the spiritual well-being was higher in girls than boys. No significant difference was observed between male and female students with regard to self-efficacy. Regarding the type of faculty a significant difference was observed between spiritual well-being and self-efficacy. Students of faculty of educational sciences and psychology had a higher mean. As regards the status of residence, no significant difference was observed between spiritual well-being and self-efficacy of students.

Nowadays, universities and higher education institutions have a significant role in the development of countries. For various reasons such as widespread demand for higher education, distance learning, internationalization of higher education, entrepreneurship and innovation universities, there is a close competition in higher education industry. This has resulted in improvement of educational quality and performance, knowledge-based developments, and access to more resources, recruit of more effective scientists in order to enhance competitive status by universities. University ranking systems are one of the most reliable tools in defining universities status while these systems themselves are facing serious changes. In this article, the way of the development and the features of the refereed ranking systems have been investigated with respect to the literature. Then, with respect to the merits of the universities’ and higher education institutes’ rankings, the fundamental challenges in ranking systems, indices, and data measurement instruments have been investigated with a critical perspective. The results indicated that the ranking systems mainly encounter some problems in order to consider parameters such as quality measurement, growth or decline diagrams, criteria weighting, the Meteo effect, comprehensibility, clarity, dynamicity, generalizability, and language limitations. Also, the ranking criteria of the Islamic Scientific Citation have been criticized due to the fact that Iranian universities are ranked on these bases and hence some suggestions are recommended with regards to its limitations.

Creation and application of the quality standards in educational system is one of the key factors to achieve the desired goals for the visions of this country. It is an important step towards an effective and efficient educational system. In recent years, great efforts have been made raised and many questions have been created about the quality of our educational system which is far from the quality assurance standards. The aim of this study is to elucidate the position of standardization to improve the quality of educational system in Iran. In this regard, we study the causes of standardization and survey the objectives as well the results of their applications in different aspects of educational system in Iran, as a developing country. One of the most ambitious goals is to promote the quality of educational system to higher international levels, regarding to our own religious values. The research method is analytical-descriptive, study and synthetize evidences of current quality status of educational programs in our country. In this paper, educational standards are regarded as systems that control the quality of the activities and services provided by the educational system. With the adoption of public standards, the culture of correct selection will be promoted. Since the quality assurance is largely a political process, it encourages the planners to focus on the political aspects. Also we should consider that educational standards should be in accordance with international criteria as well the domestic and traditional issues in order to make a change.