An Iterative Mixed-Methods Study to Evaluate the concept of Quality Culture in Engineering Education to Develop the Quality of Education and Human Capital

Quality culture, with its diverse roles, impacts organizational performance and mission achievement. Alignment with missions, conditions, resources, and organizational maturity is crucial. Effective integration drives excellence and intelligent progress. The present study was conducted with the aim of analyzing the concept of quality culture in order to develop the quality of education. This study employed an advanced mixed-methods approach, comprising four sequential phases: qualitative, qualitative, quantitative, and quantitative. The qualitative phase, grounded in interpretive phenomenology, explored the lived experiences of stakeholders across four categories: faculty members, employees, managers, and students from various faculties at the University of Tehran. Participants were selected using criterion sampling, and data saturation was achieved after conducting in-depth interviews with 61 stakeholders, representing the entire University of Tehran. Subsequently, a quantitative survey was administered to 50 stakeholders from the technical and engineering faculty. In the stage of people's perception of quality culture, 83 indicators, 19 sub-themes and three themes agreed upon by all were identified and categorized. In analyzing the difference in the perception of teaching assistants, the prevailing perception in the technical and engineering faculty was "quantity-oriented quality culture," and the prevailing current culture was also quantitative-oriented quality culture. The study findings reveal that quality culture is a complex construct with varying levels, influenced by intricate relationships spanning individual, group, organizational, and extra-organizational dimensions within each organization. Shifting away from the simplistic, static view of quality culture as merely present or absent, and instead focusing on aligning the dominant level with organizational goals, resources, and maturity can pave the way for progress. By fostering integration and striving for advancement towards higher levels, organizations can lay the groundwork for development, excellence, and strategic advancement.