Designing a Model for privatization of higher education

The present study aimed at exploring the elements of higher education in addition to introducing its composing main factors and categories in Iran and eventually presenting a comprehensive model according to the context of Iran. This is a qualitative study using grounded theory method. In order to collect the data with the purpose of finding the categories of the model, 16 semi-structured interviews with specialists and professors of the area of higher education and privatization of higher education were conducted. The sample was selected based on snowball sampling. Then, the model was accredited using member checking method. The results were presented in the form of a model consisted of 13 main categories including causal factors (Time requirements, Economic legal base), contextual factors (Cultural context, Political context, Legal context), interfering factors (Scientific axis, Policy-oriented), strategies (Supportive and financial, connectionsCorrective actions), and outcomes (Big consequences, Academic and individual consequences, Unwanted results). Also, privatization of higher education was considered as the core category in this study. Based on the findings, some recommendations were presented