The Iranian Ph.D. Students Experiences with Short-Term Research Courses Outside of the Home Country: A Qualitative Research

This study aimed to identify the effective factors in the effectiveness of short-term research courses abroad for Ph.D. students inside. This qualitative research has been carried out focusing on conventional content analysis. The study population includes all specialized doctoral students in the country who have completed short courses of research abroad. By Stratified cluster sampling to the saturation level of the data, 18 people were studied. The tool used to gather information was a semi-structured interview. Based on the main and sub-themes, and considering the 100% positive effect on students' personal, professional and cultural development, the need to continue short-term research courses abroad was explained and the need for special attention of policymakers and decision-makers of higher education to this opportunity and redesign these courses based on the management experience of previous years and the lived experiences of students revealed. Redesign the services students need to send them abroad, using more effective management measures, providing the necessary funding and support, strengthening Internet communication infrastructure and the possibility of faster and higher-quality access to the world's scientific centers and the restoration and placement of human and social values in the context of academic discourse was achieved. International experience in higher education is the most important factor. Therefor, student exchange is the suitable path for developing and improving of lived experience of students in higher education especially in post-graduate courses.