Science and technology diplomacy improvement and the Impact of higher education

This purpose of this study was to identify factors for developing science and technology diplomacy, assessing current situation and identification of factors and indicators for improving science and technology diplomacy. An applied and mixed research method was chosen for this study. Continuosly qualitative method (semi-structured interview) and a quantitative method (researcher-made questionnaire) were used. A purposive sampling method was chosen for this study. The statistical population in quantitative section was T. N. Toosi University of Technology Faculty members (n=253.  A  Structural analysis method was used for analysis of interviews. An exploratory factor analysis method was used for analysis of questionnaires data and one-sample t-test for examine current status. The results explained 3 dimensions and 30 components for the development of science and technology diplomacy, and 5 factors and 21 criteria for increasing the impact of higher education system on science and technology diplomacy in Iran. The main suggestion for higher education and foreign policy are developing infrastructure and upgrading the international agreements among universities, finding solution for shared challenges especially among neighbor’s countries.