Modeling the Implementation of Regional Higher Education Management Plan in Iran with an Interpretive-Structural Approach

Following the increase in referrals of academic affairs to the Ministry of Science (intensification of concentration and bureaucracy), the reduction of participation of universities in decision-making and planning (reduction of accountability) and the reduction of the quality of higher education system (serious imbalance between academic activities and the talents, advantages and needs of the regions) "Regional management of higher education" studies started in the second half of the 90s, but successive changes and slow progress in advancing this plan have become a problem. This research aims to analyze the key factors in the implementation of the regional management of higher education, the drivers affecting the success or failure of the plan, which are the macro decision-making variables in the regulation, direction and order of the effect of this plan. Researchers have identified the factors by conducting library studies and referring to experts, distributing questionnaires among 41 experts in the fields of futures studies, science and technology policy-making, and higher education management, and using interpretive structural modeling to determine the relationships between driving forces. The final model had 7 levels in which the factors were divided into three types: dependent, hybrid and stimulus in a logical continuum. This study showed that the three drivers of "legal action", "strengthening academic independence" and "education-oriented, research-oriented or integrated performance of the Ministry to manage the transition" are the basic prerequisites for implementing the Regional HE Management Plan.