Exploring Professional Development Process of Managers at Farhangian University: A Grounded Theory Study

The professional development of university managers is one of the important tools to achieve superior educational, research, cultural, and technological quality, which directly and indirectly increases the productivity and development of human resources. The main purpose of this research was to investigate the concepts and categories related to the process of professional development of managers at Farhangian University. This research is applied in terms of purpose and is the type of qualitative research, which has been completed based on the foundation's data theory (systematic design). The statistical population included managers of regions one, two, and nine of Farhangian University, the purposeful and snowball sampling method continued until the data reached theoretical saturation using semi-structured interviews with 18 members of the sample. The data were collected by semi-structured interviews and validated by participants’ review and expert judgment. The results of data analysis during three stages, open, central and selective coding was indicate of 13 general categories, which in the framework of the Paradigmatic model in the form of six inclusive classes include: causal conditions (internal and external motivations); the central phenomenon (participation in professional learning); Professional growth strategies (individual, collaborative and educational); contextual conditions (duration, educational content and managerial competencies); Intervening conditions (individual and personality factors, organizational factors) and consequences (failure to meet expectations, change in knowledge and attitude, development of performance and transfer of learning) reflect the process of professional growth of managers at Farhangian University. The results of this research can provide a model for policymakers, planners, and agents of the educational system at Farhangian University and higher education institutions in order to improve the quality of education and make changes and review the professional development of managers.