Prioritizing the dimensions of university independence from the perspective of academic experts

Independence is one of the structural and functional requirements of university. The purpose of this study was to prioritize the dimensions of university independence from the perspective of academic experts at Babol University of Medical Sciences and Noshirvani University of Technology. This descriptive survey was conducted in 2017. Thirty faculty members of Noshirvani University of Technology and Babol University of Medical Sciences were selected by purposive sampling method to participate as academic experts in higher education, teaching and learning. Data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire based on paired comparison matrix whose validity was confirmed by the academic experts. Also, the incompatibility rate of the questionnaire was obtained at 0.085 and 0.074 at University of Medical Sciences and Noshirvani University of Technology, respectively. Data were analyzed using the AHP method in expert choice-11 software. The dimensions of university independence from the viewpoints of experts at Noshirvani University of Technology, in priority order, was academic freedom (weight=1.37), actual independence (weight=1.23), financial independence (weight=1.21), organizational independence and staff independence (weight=0.86). The dimensions of university independence from the viewpoints of experts at Babol University of Medical Sciences, in priority order, was financial independence (weight=2.33), actual independence (weight=1.25), organizational independence (weight=0.9), academic freedom (weight=0.61), and staff independence (weight=0.44). Achieving a desired university independence is one of the most important strengths of higher education systems. Assessment of the university independence priorities of the two universities showed that the importance of each dimension is influenced by the mission, goals and functions of the university. It is therefore suggested that in order to achieve independence, a plan should be developed for sensitization towards university independence and promotion of all of the dimensions.