Qualitative Research and Model of National Self-Esteem in Universities and Higher Education Centers

The present research aims at investigating the concept of national self-esteem in higher education system of Iran. the author of the article intends to find the effective factors on national self-esteem in Iran's academic system. The method of the survey is qualitative research and data collection is through interview and data analysis is through theme analyzing method. The results of 25 interviews with 13 members of scientific board and 12 university students indicate 9 main themes that influenced the national self-esteem: past experience, confidence in ability and programs of policy makers, institutional perspective, comparison with competitors, group collectivism, institutional collectivism, universities role in social affairs, financial motivation in higher education, university independence and identity. The results of the present study indicate no similarity between resources and effective factors on self-esteem in collective level and individual. Therefore self-esteem in higher education level and academic systems are different from individual levels of self-esteem.