Analyzing the Challenges and Requirements of Supporting Talented and Outstanding Students in the Seventh Development Plan Act"

The present study was conducted with the aim of examining the challenges and operational requirements of supporting talented and outstanding students (as stipulated in Clause “B” of Article 96 of the Seventh Development Plan Act). Given the country’s needs and priorities for specialized human resources, particularly in certain fields, the necessity of supporting these students for the scientific and economic development of the country is undeniable. To this end, adopting a qualitative approach, data were collected through semi-structured interviews and expert panels, eliciting the views of 15 academic and executive experts in this field. The data analysis method employed was content analysis. According to the findings, the main challenges in implementing the provisions related to supporting talented and outstanding students in the Seventh Development Plan Act include: limited financial credits and lack of resources, insufficient coherence and coordination among policymaking and executive bodies responsible for student support, a mismatch between university majors and the capacities and needs of the labor market, and shortcomings in the continuity and comprehensiveness of the support provided to students. In this regard, the identified operational requirements include structural, policy-related, financial, executive, supervisory, and inter-sectoral requirements, each encompassing several sub-components. Among the key recommendations of this study for the effective implementation of Clause “B” of Article 96 are the drafting and ratification of a comprehensive law on supporting top talents, as well as the formulation of harmonizing policies across all executive and responsible bodies in the country.