Iran's 1404 Vision Policy, the Act of the 4th Development Plan and the Expected Fundamental Changes in niversities (Case study: Malek-e- Ashtar University of Technology)

By announcing the Iran’s Vision Policy of 1404, the direction of the country’s development was designed for two next decades. The determined aims and objectives of this vision are to be achieved by implementing four development plans (five-year plans) which the 4th Economical, Social, and Cultural Development Plan (1384-1388) has already been approved and started. The major issues about the situation of universities, which have been emphasized in the 4th Act could be seen under the article No. 49. According to this article, universities should unavoidably carryout some fundamental changes in their structures, policies and practices. As a descriptive, explorative and analytic method and by using a strategic approach, this paper tries to explore the necessity and nature of the required changes in universities. The research’s case study was the branches of Malek -e- Ashtar University of Technology (MUT) in Tehran, Isfahan and Shiraz and the samples were all the university’s senior managers and policymakers including the President of University and Vice-chancellors, the Deans of Faculties and the Heads of Departments in 1385-1386 academic years. Using a questionnaire, the data were collected and analyzed. Findings show that it is needed to transform the university in following four areas: “missions and goals”, “strategies and policies”, “structures and tasks”, “environmental factors and stakeholders”. Also findings suggest that the main priorities for fundamental changes in those four areas should be given to “educating human resources needed for society”; “globalization”; “providing professional services”; and “the University’s Board of Trustees”, respectively.