Social Factors Affecting the Performance of Architecture Graduates

Architectural education is a challenging and sensitive task since the architects' development and design skills depend on this issue. A look at the performance of the architecture graduates reveals that they are not very successful in playing their roles and face challenges and factors in society that can affect their performance. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to identify these factors via a mixed-methods design (qual first), conducting an analytical-exploratory factor analysis. First, based on the findings of a semi-structured interview, prepared according to the Delphi method and the qualitative analysis by MAXQDA, a researcher-developed questionnaire was prepared for surveying architecture graduates and the experts in the field. Then the data were quantitatively analyzed using exploratory factor analysis by SPSS and parallel analysis. Finally, the supportive political and economic barriers, besides their important sub-factors such as low support of governmental organizations for research units and professional development, lack of support of professional non-governmental organizations and intermediary institutions, and lack of economic and political security for entrepreneurs and startups, were pinpointed as the deterrent factors for the effective performance of the architecture graduates. The findings can be used by major policymakers of higher education, architecture researchers, university professors, students, and Entrepreneurs.