Identifying the components influencing the flourishing of the education system from the perspective of experts

The aim of this study was to identify the components influencing the flourishing of the education system from the perspective of experts. The research was conducted using a qualitative approach and a case study method. The statistical population included experts in the field of educational flourishing and senior managers of the Education Department of Semnān Province in 2023. A total of 20 participants were selected through purposive sampling based on the principle of theoretical saturation. The research instruments consisted of semi-structured interviews and analysis of the documents related to this topic. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The data analysis resulted in the identification of 323 basic themes, 63 first-level organizing themes, and 15 second-level organizing themes related to the flourishing of the education system. These were categorized into four overarching themes:1. Flourishing at the ministry of education level: This included four organizing themes: policymaking and leadership, human resource management, economic conditions, and organizational structure, 2. Flourishing at the provincial education department level: This encompassed three organizing themes: leadership, professional development centers, and administrative staff and experts, 3. School-level flourishing: This included four organizing themes: individual flourishing, professional flourishing, organizational flourishing, and literacy of principals and teachers, and 4. Curriculum-level flourishing: This consisted of four organizing themes: skill-based curricula, future-oriented curricula, curricula based on the citizenship rights, and curricula focused on global citizenship education. The collected data were validated using the participant feedback method, and their reliability was assessed and confirmed based on the quality criterion (trustworthiness). Using the research findings, a model for the flourishing of the education system was proposed. It is hoped that by moving toward this model, the education system, as a cohesive whole, can bring about fundamental changes to establish and sustain flourishing at the levels of the Ministry, provincial education departments, schools, and curricula.