An Integrative Model for Policymaking in Universities

Policymaking is a sovereignty function of the government. Scientific findings of policymaking as a field of study lead us to the micro and macro activities of the government in various areas. Universities are among the areas which are important for their roles in human development and promotion of culture، sciences and technologies and must be considered in determining patterns of policymaking. Using improper patterns in policymaking in universities may divert them from achieving their goals and impose even more difficulties on the society. Using models and modeling is among the measures presented for better understanding of factors and variables of policymaking in universities. But their success and efficiency are questionable in the present situation. The article tries to examine present policies of universities for determining amount of their enjoying benefits of the existing models and presenting a proper model for them. The findings show that the Iranian Supreme Council of Cultural Revolution، as the legal authority of policymaking for high education، has used almost all models. But the article suggests an integrative model (a contingency approach) based on combination of five models، i. e.، systemic، process، rational، incremental and institutional models. Regarding the inadequacies and limitations of using the models separately، it seems that the integrative model could be efficient.