Identifying and explaining the components of evaluating the quality of educational services in universities

Quality in higher education is not about reaching a static point but rather a dynamic movement and flow. The current research aims to investigate and explain the effective components in evaluating the quality of education in universities. The research method is applied in nature and descriptive-survey in methodology. The data collection tool for the qualitative part was content analysis using Atlas.ti software, extraction of indicators, and the Delphi method. The statistical population for the Delphi part included 18 faculty members selected through a non-probability (snowball) and theoretical saturation method, and for the quantitative part, 92 faculty members and 357 students from the Islamic Azad University were selected using simple random sampling and Morgan’s table. Data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics and SPSS 26 software were used in data analysis. Organizational structure, faculty, students, educational courses, teaching-learning strategies, and equipment and facilities comprised 71 indicators and 29 criteria, among which faculty members had the highest priority. The results indicated a relatively desirable quality of education at the Islamic Azad University, with only a small gap remaining to reach an optimal state.