The Functions of University in Promoting the Societal Security of The Islamic Republic of Iran

University, as one of the main and most influential social institutions in Iran, has become the best place for promoting societal education by providing a place for people with different interests, tendencies, ethnicities, and cultures. It can play an effective role in promoting the societal security of the country under various functions such as nurturing sensitive, responsible, specialized, and committed people. The present study is an applied exploratory research that is carried out through a combined method to identify the functions of university in promoting the societal security of the Islamic Republic of Iran. First, in the qualitative section, research experts were interviewed. The results of content analysis and coding of interviews identified 91 indicators. The indicators, then, were categorized in the form of 10 dimensions of educating a responsible citizen, reasonable and possible normalization, cultural (living to understand judgment and persuasion), establishing a safe society, innovation, participation, economic (providing an understanding of the purpose of economic endeavor), ethical education of the society, critical thinking, and awareness. In the quantitative section, based on the identified dimensions and indicators, a questionnaire on the functions of university in promoting the societal security of the Islamic Republic of Iran was designed and distributed among 170 specialists and experts in the field of research. The data collected in this section were analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis. The results of the confirmatory factor analysis showed that the pattern of university functions in promoting societal security fits well with the data. The present study emphasizes the role of university functions in promoting societal security in the mentioned dimensions.