Designing and Validation of Accreditation and Quality Assurance Model for Iranian Higher Education

The present study was conducted to design and validate a model for accreditation and quality assurance of Iranian higher education.This study was performed using a mixed method of explorative plan-tool development model. First, in qualitative part of this study, questionnaire consisted of 25 factors and 157 Criteria were designed by using the method of Grounded Theory and interview with 36 experts. For the validity of qualitative findings, were used from the criteria of credibility, confirmability, dependability and transferability. Then, in the quantitative section, designed questionnaires were conducted on 84 members of Iranian experts with high education. Based on the received feedback, the questionnaires were revised, then the final and modified version was put in the hands of 293 experts in different cities of Iran. The validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by experts and its reliability was calculated by Cronbach's alpha which was equal to (0.982). Non-probability purposive sampling method was used in the qualitative part of the study whereas random classified sampling method was applied in the quantitative part. In addition, analysis of structural equation modeling was used for testing mentioned scale. By doing first-order confirmatory factor analysis, mentioned model were modified to 22 factors and 150 Criteria. Results of second-order confirmatory factor analysis, also showed that 22 extracted components are sufficient factor leading to prediction model related to accreditation and quality assurance of high education systems in Iran. In addition, goodness of fit indices such as, (CMIN/DF) which is equal to 1.924, (RMSEA) = 0.39, (GFI) equal= 0.976, (AGFI) = 0.939, (CFI) = 0.928, (NNFI) = 0.935, (TLI) = 1.000, (IFI) = 0.928 and (RFI) = 0925 Conclusion The results of statistical tests displayed that the designed model enjoys very favorable fitness for the accreditation and quality assurance of high education system in universities of Iran.