Efficiency And Effectiveness of Theses and Dissertations in The Field of Higher Education in Solving the Higher Education Issues and Responding to The National Needs: Obstacles and Solutions

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
asghar zamani 1
Mahtab Poratashi 2
1 Associate Professor, Higher Education Management Studies, Institute for Research & Planning in Higher Education, Tehran, Iran.
2 Associate Professor, Comparative Studies in Higher Education, Institute for Research & Planning in Higher Education, Tehran, Iran
10.61838/KMAN.IRPHE.30.4.5
Abstract
This study was conducted with the aim of identifying the obstacles of efficiency and effectiveness of theses and dissertations in the field of higher education in solving the higher education issues and responding to the national needs, and also providing solutions to remove those obstacles. This applied research used the qualitative method of content analysis and the Delphi technique. The data collection tools were interviews and questionnaires obtained from the content analysis of the interviews. The participants were experts in the field of higher education, including academic staff members and higher education managers, and graduates of higher education fields. In the Delphi section, after completing 3 rounds, a consensus was reached regarding the obstacles, as well as the solutions for the efficiency and effectiveness of graduate theses and dissertations in the field of higher education in solving the higher education issues and responding to the national needs. SPSS software was used for data analysis. The results indicate that the existing obstacles for the effectiveness and efficiency of theses and dissertations in the fields of higher education and their solutions are divided into 6 categories. The first category is related to the student and the preparation of theses and dissertations (researcher). The second category is related to the supervisor, advisor, and referee (they are the guiding and monitoring team of the research). The third category is related to the (educational and research) department, faculty and university. In the fourth category, the obstacles and solutions related to the higher education system (extra-academic factors) and in the fifth category, there are factors outside the institution of higher education. Finally, in the sixth category there are obstacles and solutions related to dissertations and theses. Based on the results of the research, among the best solutions for the effectiveness and efficiency of the results of theses and dissertations, includes: strengthening the research capabilities of students and their ethical education, monitoring the completion of reforms requested by referees, and supervisors' and advisors' awareness to the issues and needs of higher education.

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  • Receive Date 19 August 2023
  • Revise Date 29 May 2024
  • Accept Date 01 February 2024
  • Publish Date 21 December 2024