A Planning Model for Expansion and Stagnation of Higher Education in Iran
,
Abstract
Iran universities of medical sciences have experienced a period of expansion in past decades. Now previous concerns are alleviated, and the former quantity-based policy has given a way to a more quality-seeking attitude. In this study, we developed a planning model for expansion and stagnation of higher education in Iranian universities of medical sciences based on workforce requirements of the country and capabilities of the universities. The plan provided an objectively documented base for the authorities to decide on developmental limits of universities. We devised guidelines for justifying existing programs within universities, assigning new undergraduate and postgraduate programs to universities, voluntary request of universities to cancel a program, and their request to offer new programs for the first time in the country, based on three factors: university educational status, each university-program educational status and the nation's need for each discipline. Related councils of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education legitimately approved the plan and guidelines. In this article, we introduced the methodology of developing the plan, described it and its related guidelines and discussed challenges and limitations we encountered in design and application phases.
Wang RJ. From elitism to mass higher education in Taiwan: The problems faced. High Educ 2003;46(3):261-87.
Amano I. Structural changes in Japan’s higher education system – from a planning to a market model. High Educ1997;34(2):125-39.
Lee MNN. Global trends, national policies and institutional responses: restructuring higher education in Malaysia. Educ Res Policy Pract 2004;3(1):31-46.
Lin CHA. Education expansion, educational inequity, and income inequity: evidence from Taiwan, 1976–2003. SocIndic Res 2007;80(3):601-15.
Portela M, Areal N, Fernando Alexandre CS, et al.nEvaluating student allocation in the Portuguese publichigher education system. High Educ 2008;56(2):185-203.
Kember D. Opening up the road to nowhere: problems with the path to mass higher education in Hong Kong. High Educ 2010;59(2):167-9.
Núñez I, Livanos I. Higher education and unemployment in Europe: an analysis of the academic subject and nationaleffects. High Educ 2010;59(4):475-87.
Lin CH A, Yang CH. An analysis of educational inequality in Taiwan after the higher education expansion. Soc Indic Res 2009;90(2):295-305.
Yano M. Higher education and employment. High Educ 1997;34(2):199-214.
Mohammadi A, Mojtahedzadeh R, Motarjemi R, editors. Medical schools of Iran. Rankings and database. 2nd ed. Tehran: Ministry of Health and Medical Education; 2003: p. 25.
Assessment and Accreditation of Medical Schools: Standards and Procedures. Australian Medical Council. (Accessed in May 4, 2014, at http://www.amc.org.au/index.php/ar/bme/standards).
Functions and structure of a medical school, Standards for Accreditation of Medical Education Programs Leading to the M.D. Degree. Liaison Committee on MedicalEducation. (Accessed in May 4, 2014, at http://www.lcme.org/standard.htm).
Basic Medical Education WFME Global Standards for Quality Improvement. University of Copenhagen. World Federation for Medical Education. (Accessed in May 4, 2014, at http://www.wfme.org).
Dill DD, Soo M. Academic quality, league tables, and public policy: a cross-national analysis of university ranking systems. High Educ 2005;49(4):495-533.
Thakur M. The impact of ranking systems on higher education and its stakeholders. J Inst Res 2007;13(1):83-96.
Suter WN. Introduction to educational research, a critical thinking approach. 2nd ed. United States of America: Sage publications; 2006: p. 310-1.
Griffith A, Rask K. The influence of the US News and World Report collegiate rankings on the matriculation decision of high-ability students: 1995–2004. Econ Educ Rev 2007;26:244-55.
Goldie J. AMEE Education Guide no. 29: Evaluating educational programmes. Med Teach 2006;28 (3):210-24.
| Files | ||
| Issue | Vol 52, No 10 (2014) | |
| Section | Original Article(s) | |
| Keywords | ||
| Higher education Education expansion Workforce Development | ||
| Rights and permissions | |
|
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |
