The Impact of Globalization on Educational System of Islamic Republic of Iran

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impacts, the developments as well as status of the dimensions of the education system of the country in the face of globalization based on the views of specialists, university teachers and the staff of education sector using a mixed method. In the qualitative part of the study, the interview method and in the quantitative part, the survey method was used to collect data. Purposeful (theoretical) sampling method was used for the qualitative part of the study. Also, the community of experts including 25 people was interviewed. The interviews were analyzed using content analysis method and finally 35 components in seven dimensions of globalization of education were identified. For conducting the quantitative part, 108 people out of 150 ones were selected as the sample of the study from the research community of the staff of education, school teachers and university teachers in the universities of Tehran who were familiar with the area of globalization and education. 100 people completed the questionnaires. The research tool for gathering the data was a researcher-made questionnaire and Cronbach's alpha method was used to evaluate the reliability of the questionnaire. Kolmogorov-Smirnov, T-test, One-way analysis of variance, and Scheffe test as well as Friedman test were also used to analyze the results of the questionnaire. In addition, AHP method was used to determine the weight of globalization dimensions. Based on the results obtained from the viewpoints of specialists, university teachers, education experts and staff, The system of education in the country in terms of workgroups in different cultures, the balance between worldview and local performance, world-view rather than self-centeredness, foreign language knowledge, the comprehensiveness of using computer and group work is at a poor level compared to the global scale in terms of the growth of access to electronic and internet facilities, the inclusiveness of education in the country and the comprehensiveness of educational materials. Also from the viewpoint of the statistical population under the study, the comprehensiveness of the educational system and its effect on the growth of students is the most consistent component with globalization. Based on the results of the present study, many of the mentioned weaknesses of the education system require extensive actions in the area of curriculum development, teaching methods and techniques, development of global values, establishing constructive interaction and local factors and conditions with global norms, applying all capacities and potentials for language learning, developing learning literacy skills, developing users' computer skills, and ultimately changing attitudes from purely domestic to global considerations. Since experts familiar with the issues of globalization in the education system agree on these issues, special considerations are needed in order to enhance the power of students and the system of education in the face of globalization and its benefits. Large education programs and national documents should be considered so that the country's contribution to both globalization and rationalization is balanced and the balance of scientific, technological, cultural and social exchanges would be in a favorable position.