نشریه نامه آموزش عالی
پیاپی 36 (زمستان 1395)

The purpose of present study was to evaluate the educational performance of Ardakan University based on students and faculty members’ opinions by using CIPP model in the academic year 1394-95. This survey was a cross-sectional-discretional study that carried out in 41 faculty members and 340 student who were selected by randomly sampling. The data gathered by a researcher-made questionnaire designed based on CIPP model. The data analyzed by one-sample T test and independent T test. The results show that both faculty members and students in all of dimensions of CIPP model including Context, Input, Process and Product, believed that educational performance of Ardakan University is appropriate (p.05). Except in equipment and students dimension, faculty members evaluate the educational performance of the university better than students (p

Nowadays, by considering the history of academic autonomy in world’s top universities, neglecting such a criteria in ranking systems is thought provoking. European University Association classified the recent concept in four factors: Organizational, Financial, Staffing and Academic. Therefore, the present study investigated the relationship between University Autonomy factors and Times Higher Education ranking of best European universities. This research is based on descriptive-correlational method. The study population consisted of all European universities which have been participated in 2011 ranking of European University Association and best European universities in 2017 ranking of THE. The sample consisted of 15 countries and 249 universities based on the data of European University Association ranking and THE ranking of best European universities. Data were analyzed through the version 24 of SPSS by using Spearman correlation and linear regression tests. There is only a significant relationship between Staffing Autonomy and THE ranking of best European universities, but based on linear regression results, university autonomy factors are good predictors of this rankings except Organizational Autonomy. Because of Financial Autonomy, Staffing Autonomy and Academic Autonomy are the appropriate indicators for ranking universities in Europe, the need for further research to develop a similar index in the ranking of European universities and its feasibility will be felt in Iranian universities.

This paper aimed to investigate the most important issues of higher education in agriculture and natural resources. The research method was descriptive method via survey approach. Target population consisted of 70 participants in the "National Meeting of Agriculture and Natural Resources Higher Education: Vision 1404" which held in January 2015 in Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. 54 participants were selected based on random sampling method. Using SPSS and EXCEL software, the gathered data were analyzed. In order to rank the items Friedman mean was used. In order to compare the importance of each intra-university and outside-university issues Wilcoxon test was used. The results showed that the most important outside-university issues are "existing large number of unqualified universities, institutes, centers and units", "decrease quality of the enrolled persons in agriculture and natural resources fields" and "lack of spatial planning of agricultural education". Moreover, the most important intra-university issues are "low share of practical course / skill training", "little attention to present practical unit" and "not client- basis or no applicability of thesis". The results of Wilcoxon test showed although the average score of intra-university issues was higher than outside-university issues, but the difference is not significant.

Nowadays, interest in quality in higher education and universities has been increased and paid attention in educational researches in international area. This descriptive- correlational research aimed to investigate university educational services quality from the students’ viewpoint. The statistical population of the research consisted of all Master of Science (MSc.) and Ph. D. students of faculty of agriculture in Tarbiat Modares University (TMU) (N= 414). Using Krejcie and Morgan’s table and simple random sampling, 193 students were selected as research sample (n= 193). A structured questionnaire, including end-closed answers using adjusted educational service quality (SERVQUAL) model in five dimensions was the main tool for data gathering. A panel of agricultural extension and education confirmed the validity of the questionnaire and its reliability was confirmed by calculating Cronbach alpha. According to the results, the priority of educational service quality dimension from the students’ viewpoints included empathy, responsiveness, reliability, tangibility and assurance. The results of comparing tests means showed that there were significant differences between the students with different courses, different average of scores and different gender regarding the satisfying from the educational service quality.

The main purpose of this descriptive- correlative study was an analysis of the effect of emotional intelligence on entrepreneurial spirit among agricultural students in Tarbiat Modares University. The population of this research consisted of graduate students in agricultural faculty of Tarbiat Modares University (N=764). Sample size was determined by Krejcie and Morgan table (n=280). Sampling method was stratified random sampling. (n=256). Research instrument was questionnaire. Face and content validity verified by faculty members of agricultural extension and education in Tarbiat Modarres University. For determining reliability of instrument, pilot test is done then mean of Chronbach’s alpha calculated for emotional intelligence 0.72 and entrepreneurial spirit 0.85. Discriminant validity and the composite reliability of the research instrument were tested by estimating the measurement model and they were satisfied after making necessary corrections. For analysis of data, variance and covariance technique is used by structural equation modeling. The results of structural equation modeling showed that the emotional intelligence had a positive and significant effect on entrepreneurial spirit of students. Thus, this explained about 55 percent of the variations of entrepreneurial spirit among students. Based on the findings, it can be concluded that reinforcing the emotional intelligence directly results in improvement of entrepreneurship students of Tarbiat Modares University.

The purpose of this study is to identify the educational needs of the educational teachers. The study population included all teachers in applied-scientific center of Cooperative Organization, Hamedan, which were selected by a census method because of the limited number of the teachers. Data were gathered from 40 teachers through a researcher made questionnaire. The validity of the questions was verified by a group of experts and the reliability was calculated by using Alpha Cronbach's coefficient and it was 0.78. The results showed the most important teacher's educational needs were evaluation of educational programs (m=3.96), communicational skills (m=3.85), teaching and learning skills (m=3.83), research skills (m=3.75), and English language skills (m=3.65). The results also revealed that there is a negative significant relationship between the teacher's years of work and the level of their educational needs. The analysis of variance test's results showed a significant difference between the level of the teachers'' educational needs and their field of study. In order to test the direction and priority of each group Duncan test was used. This test showed the following sciences include economy, management, computer science, auditing science, mathematics, industries, and Persian language science required a more educational need in all subject areas respectively.

The aim of this study was to investigate the prediction of academic motivation of teacher-students based on optimism and meaning of education. For this purpose, 168 students from Farhangian University of Tehran (105 females and 63 males) were selected by stratified sampling and completed the study questionnaires. The instrument used in this study were Scheier and Carver's Life orientation, Henderson – King and Smith' meaning of education and Vallerend' academic motivation questionnaires. The data were analyzed by Pearson correlation coefficient and stepwise regression analysis. The findings indicated that there were significant positive relationships between optimism and meaning of education with academic motivation. Optimism and meaning of education explained 26 and 27 percent of the variance in academic motivation, respectively. The findings emphasize emotional and cognitive aspects of education such as optimism and meaning of education on improvement of student's academic motivation. It is worth that in learning process considered strategies to improve student's attitude towards education.