An Interpretive Structural Analysis of Indicators Contributing to Ineffectiveness in the Iranian University System

The main purpose of this study was to identify and analyze indicators of the ineffectiveness of the university system in Iran. In so doing, we recruited exploratory mixed (qualitative-quantitative) approaches. In the first stage (qualitative), we purposively selected and analyzed 12 lectures, interviews and criticism of Iranian academic experts in the media, and the results showed that according to experts, the most important indicators of the ineffectiveness of the academic system in Iran include: Quantitativeism, ineffectiveness of researches, lack of scientific authority, certificationism, deterioration of the concept of discipleship, failure and positional arrogance, class chaos and turmoil, vulnerability and reduced public trust in the university and academics, and the separation between university and society. In the second stage of the research, to analyze the relationships between the identified indicators and their leveling, was used the interpretive structural analysis (ISM) approach based on the opinion of experts, and finally, the findings showed that the indicators of the ineffectiveness of the university system in Iran based on the degree of influence on each other in There are five levels. According to the findings, the indicators of higher levels, in order of level, have a high influence on lower levels and play a central role in the ineffectiveness of the university system in Iran.