مجله آموزش عالی ایران
سال سوم شماره 3 (پیاپی 11، زمستان 1389)

this study investigates students’ concept and image of Payam Noor University and its functions. In addition, the study deals with students’ expectations and concepts of an ideal university. The results of the study were based on viewpoints of 105 Payam Noor University, Tehran students using content analysis method as technical research to provide an in-depth understanding of the reality of the situation. Furthermore, descriptive survey method and statistical methods for analysis were used. The results show that students’ expectations of Payam Noor University are different from the functions defined for it. In regards to the functions of the university, with content analysis of student responses, 18 factors were identified. The results of the statistical analysis showed significant differences between student viewpoints depending on their gender and subject of study; however, there were no significant differences in student viewpoints in different age ranges. A comparative study of student ideas of ideal functions of a university and the defined functions of Payam Noor University show that students’ image of the defined functions are different from the existing functions of Payam Noor.

The present article examines effective factors in motivation to study at non-profit universities. The research method was a undertaking a survey, using a questionnaire to to collect the data. The study sample population were students studying at non-state, non-profit universities in the Province of Mazandaran and the sample size was 290 students. The results indicate that economic incentive is the most important reason for studying and statistically at the highest level. The average for motivation to study at non-profit universities is 2.99 in 5 which is at a medium level. Independent variables considered in this study include age, gender, marital status, employment status, educational level, subject of study, university name, parents’ educational background and family income. The only variable amongst those mentioned that affects motivation in non-profit universities is the name of the university. In addition, the findings illustrate that in regards to economic incentive and the incentive of being close to parents and friends, amongst the independent variables considered only family income remains in the final model; the effect of this variable on both dependent variables is negative.

The purpose of this study is to investigate effective factors in improvement of research productivity of faculty members. Causal-comparative research method was used. Statistical population comprised of 730 faculty members of universities. The sample comprised of 164 subjects. Researcher-made questionnaires were used for data gathering. Results indicated that faculty members who have more research skills and less academic duty and are more in research atmospheres, their research productivity is also higher. On the other hand, the results showed that having opportunity for industrial communication, communicational skills, non financial needs and individual discipline are not effective in research productivity of faculty members. Therefore, increasing research skills in such areas as statistics and method of research, reduction of non research activities, and having relationships with others researchers and research centers/institutes are effective factors in improvement of research productivity of faculty members.

For conducting a survey about the status of knowledge management (K.M) in Shahid Chamran University and its relationship with organizational culture (O.C), 188 faculties and 119 employees were randomly selected and then asked to complete two questionnaires. The results illustrated that the status of (K.M) is lower than the critical value (t=3.5) and their differences are significant. Stepwise regression showed that five of (O.C) factors: (management support, identity, control, agreement whit conflict and risk tolerance) have significant effects on (K.M) and they can predict 36 percent of (K.M) variance. In addition, it was found that internalization alone can predict 25 percent of (O.C).

The main purpose of this study is to investigate entrepreneurship capabilities (independence, internal control, progress motivation, risk-taking and creativity) of students of Payame Noor University of Arak and specifying the influence of university education on reinforcing such capabilities. In this study, a descriptive method was used. For gathering data a researcher-made questionnaire was used. Reliability coefficient of the questionnaire was 0.86. In order to carry out the project 260 students of Payame Noor University of Arak in the academic year of 1386-87 were selected by random classical sampling method. Two levels of inferential and descriptive statistics by the use of SPSS software were performed to analyse the data. The results showed that: entrepreneurship capabilities of students in the independence, internal control, progress motivation and creativity were more than the mean value, but in the case of risk-taking the relevant scores were less than mean value. University education was not found to be effective in reinforcing entrepreneurship capabilities of the students. Effectiveness of entrepreneurship centred education in reinforcing entrepreneurship capabilities such as independence, internal control, progress motivation, risk-taking was refused, but this hypothesis in the case of creativity was accepted.

ducational dropout constitutes reduction of university students’ performance from satisfactory level to unfavorable level. Educational dropout may distance the state educational system from the planned objectives and cause loss of some investments and opportunities. The consequences of this phenomenon are crystallized into different shapes, including expulsion from school and withdrawal from study. This research analyzes and presents the results of educational dropout according to the 1064 files of probationary students of State Universities as obtained from 20 sessions of Ministry of Science, Research and Technology’s Special Cases Commission in the academic year 2008-09. The research shows that individualistic,family, economic and social factors caused educational dropout in students. This is followed by an opinion poll taken from 32 State Universities’ Deputies for Students Affairs (considering their experiences including official presence in Universities Special Cases Commission, as the Commission’s Secretary) on the causes of educational dropout among students. This poll was taken via personal interviews with Deputies for Student Affairs whereby their views were collected, then analyzed, and conclusions drawn.

The goal of this study is to investigate relationship between self-directed learning readiness of bachelor students in virtual universities and their academic achievement. In a correlation-Descriptive study 352 bachelor students were selected from Khajenasir-Shiraz-Science and Technology –Hadith sciences virtual universities. They answered Guglielmino Questionnaire for studying research variables. Their scores average was considered as academic achievement index until study time. Data were analyzed by Multiple regression، Simple regression،Variance analysis and T-test. The obtained findings from this research showed that there is a relation between students self-directed learning readiness in virtual environment and their academic achievement. Also, application ability of study and problem –solving skills and positive self concept have the most ability for academic achievement prediction and there was the most correlation between those.