Blended Research on Higher Education Strategies in the Commercialization of Knowledge in Order to Meet the Needs of Society in Comprehensive and Very Large Units of Islamic Azad University

The purpose of integrated research on higher education strategies in the commercialization of knowledge in order to meet the needs of society in the comprehensive and very large units of the Islamic Azad University.

This research was applied in terms of purpose, and in terms of method in the category of mixed research (qualitative (foundation data theory) - quantitative) and exploratory type. The participants of the present study were in the qualitative section of the faculty members of the free universities, which were selected by the method of theoretical sampling in a targeted manner and based on the principle of theoretical saturation, 11 of them. Data collection tools were semi-structured and in-depth interviews with participants. First, the data obtained from the interviews were implemented based on the systematic approach of Strauss and Corbin and analyzed in three stages of open, axial and selective coding. Validation and analysis performed by the interviewees were confirmed. The results of 235 initial conceptual propositions with 52 sub-categories and 28 main category propositions in the form of six dimensions of the paradigm model were identified and the relationships between them were drawn and presented in the form of a paradigm model. The statistical population of the quantitative part of the research consisted of faculty members of 46 comprehensive and large units of Islamic Azad University with a total of 10,752 people, which was determined as the sample size using the sampling formula of an unlimited population of 184 people. Subjects were selected using available sampling method and 200 questionnaires were distributed. Due to the incompleteness in completing some of the questionnaires or non-response, 178 of them, which were complete, were used as the basis for analysis. The validity of the questionnaire approved by the supervisor and management experts and its reliability was calculated 91% using Cronbach's alpha method. Quantitative data were analyzed in the form of descriptive data analysis, first and second order factor analysis and structural equation modeling using SPSS23 and AMOS23 software.

Quantitative results confirmed the paradigm model extracted from the qualitative part, the relationships between causal conditions, meeting the needs of stakeholders, ground conditions, intervening conditions, response strategies and its consequences.

According to the obtained results, it can be said that the quantity and quality of education should be commensurate with the demand of the labor market (industry). Therefore, how to invest in improving the knowledge of the specialized workforce and its proper use, as well as proper management based on the needs of society, are among the items that need to be studied and reviewed wisely and comprehensively, and at the same time require a plan. Plans are tailored to the changing conditions of the human labor market.