The Evaluation of the Academic Development of Faculty Members of University and Proposing Suitable Strategies for Its Enhancement (Case Study; A Military University)

This study was an attempt to evaluate the academic development of faculty members of university and is also aimed to propose suitable strategies for its enhancement. Faculty members are identified as crucial human resources of higher education centers; therefore, the academic performances of universities are all deeply affected by their academic development. Faculty members are also identified as the most important human capital of every university and society and their academic enhancement is of crucial significance for universities and is also taken as an incontrovertible fact. Modern military education is an absolute necessity due to the rapid changes in military sciences in recent decades and the necessity for empowering the faculty members as a developmental approach and fundamental plan is sharply emphasized at universities. As an applied and descriptive field study, this study was conducted through engaging sample population of 94 faculty members of military universities who were selected based on stratified random sampling method. The findings revealed that the academic development of faculty members and its components including organizational, educational and individual development enjoys 0.05 rates of effectiveness and putting it at the top of the average level. The findings also revealed that in terms of academic development of faculty members, there is a significant difference among three faculties of Imam Ali military university at the level of 0.05. Moreover, in terms of mean score of faculty members, faculty of military management stood at the top of ranking among three faculties including military management, foreign languages and the faculty of flight and engineering. Additionally, the academic development of faculty members is confirmed by the factor analysis and its development is appropriately evaluated by its components. Finally, in a bid to enhance the academic development of faculty members, some practical suggestions are made according to the viewpoint of faculty members.