Designing a ranking model for academic departments with AHP method

One of the most important institutions for education, human resource development and the main factor for the progress and development in each country is higher education. There are some indicators for ranking universities and academic departments around the world. University ranking is one of the most important tools for determining the strengths and weaknesses of them. Designing a ranking model of academic departments in Iranian state universities to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the higher education system is necessary for optimal allocation in human and financial resources. The approach of this research is qualitative and exploratory. The statistical population includes experts in higher education. Fourteen experts were selected through purposeful sampling. Data were collected by semi-structured interview. Obtianed data were analyzed by content analysis approach. The findings of the research show that the academic department ranking has been done by four main factors including: input with four indicator, the process with three indicator, output with four indicator and outcome with three indicator. In this research wights of every one of the factors and indicators has been determined by AHP method.