Clarifying Legal Position of Decision-Making Bodies in Iran Science, Research, and Technology System

The main purpose of this study is clarifying legal position of decision-making bodies in Iranian science, research, and technology system. Several bodies are engaged in plicy-making in Iranian higher education system; for example, the Ministry of Science, Research, and Technology or Iranian Supreme Council for Science Research & Technology. In such context, clarigying the position of different component of this system will help better understanding of Iranian higher education, as well as decreasing conflict of these components’ role in policy-making. To achieve this purpose, required data are gathered through library research methodology, which is one of key methods in qualitative approach. The findings show that there is no a transparent and clear definition of science, research, and technology system in legal documents. Supreme Leader General Policies, Iran's 20-year vision plan, The National Master Plan For Science and Education, and the Law of Goals, Structure, and Role of Ministry of Science, Research, and Technology are among the most important top-level policy and legislation documents which comprise the structure of Iranian science, research, and technology system. In additions, bodies that have a role in this system are generaly affiliated to Supreme Leader’s Office and and the government. However, the Legislature and Judicial departments have no a significant role in the system. Decision-making bodies in this system including Supreme Leader’s Office, Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution, Iranian Supreme Council for Science Research & Technology, the Ministry of Science, Research, and Technology, and Presidential Deputy for Science and Technology. Also, some institutions have an inconsiderable impact on the system, including Steering Committee of National Master Plan For Science and Education, Management and Planning Organization of Iran (MPO), Iranian Academic Center for Education,Culture and Research (ACECR), and the Academy of Sciences IR Iran.