A Model for the Development and Training of Superior Academic Talents at Armed Forces Elite Centers: A Hybrid Approach

With the emergence of the knowledge-centered era, philosophers have reached the common understanding that having a developed society and making growth and progress in different aspects depend on the efforts to develop and train superior talents. Accordingly, the present study aims to provide a desirable model for the development and training of superior academic talents based on a hybrid (qualitative-quantitative) approach and an applied developmental method. The statistical population of the research includes the superior academic talents as well as senior managers of elite centers. A sample of 22 individuals including 12 top scientific talents and 10 senior managers of elite centers in the armed forces were selected through a purposeful judgment sampling. Data collection was done using library and field methods (semi-structured interview with experts and questionnaire). For analyzing the data in the qualitative stage, the method of thematic analysis is used and in the quantitative stage, a multi-criteria decision-making approach is utilized with the method of grey numbers theory. The results of the qualitative section of the research have led to the presentation of a model for the development and training of the superior academic talents (Talent Development). Also, in the quantitative section of the research, the most important processes for the development and training of academic talents are explained and enumerated.