Assessing the Professional Competencies of Primary School Students in Kerman Universities with a Bench Marking Approach

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the professional competencies of primary school students in Kerman universities with Bench Marking approach. The research method was mixed with a quantitative descriptive survey method, and a qualitative method was used to reveal the optimal aspects of the top university. Data collection tools were researcher-made questionnaire and semi-structured interview. The statistical population of students related to primary education in Kerman universities included 506 people in the academic year 1395-1396, 339 people were selected by stratified sampling method using Cochran's formula, In the qualitative section, the views of 14 officials and professors of Farhangian University were used by purposive sampling. To analyze the data, t-test and structural equation modeling method were performed. In the qualitative part, the text of the interviews was coded and categorized. The findings of the quantitative part of the research showed the relatively favorable situation of the research-related universities (Farhangian, Shahid Bahonar, Payame Noor Kerman) in terms of professional competence (cognitive, skill and emotional) among them, Farhangian University was in a better and more favorable situation than other universities (Shahid Bahonar University, Payame Noor University) in all three dimensions of professional competence. Also, in a qualitative study, the reason for the superiority of Farhangian University in the axial coding stage was enrichment in seven curriculum elements including objectives, content from theoretical and practical dimensions, learning teaching process, facilities and equipment, learning space, evaluation process and attention to the learner as Seven pivotal categories and in the selective coding phase, curriculum richness was found to be a key pivotal category.