Ecological Analysis of Interactions and International Performance of Universities

Document Type : Scientific - Research

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Department of Higher Education Economics, Higher Education Research and Planning Institute, Tehran, Iran

2 Associate Professor, Department of Educational Innovation and Curriculum, Higher Education Research and Planning Institute, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Objectives: In the current age, which is known as the age of knowledge, the development and competitiveness of countries and nations depends on the production, delivery and effective and fruitful use of knowledge and technology. These activities are all formed and expanded in an ecosystem called "Knowledge Development Ecosystem". Universities are the center of this type of ecosystem. Interactions and performance of universities play a very decisive role in the performance of these ecosystems. The interactions and performance of a university can be analyzed and explained at both national and international levels. So far, researchers and policy makers have mainly paid attention to the access to resources and material and physical facilities in determining the international performance of universities, and they have not paid attention to the role of the university biome. Therefore, the aim of this article is to emphasize the livability of the university in the biome and the ecological analysis of the international interactions and performance of the universities.
Materials and Methods: To achieve this goal, descriptive approach, documentary research method, conceptual framework of knowledge ecology and quantitative statistical analyzes have been used. The data and information required in relation to the variables "international performance of universities" which are the dependent variables, from the "QS" World University Rankings report in 2024; and the data and information required in relation to the variables related to the biome, which are independent variables; It has been obtained from various reports of the ranking of countries in different areas of the biome (such as economic freedom index, human freedom index, global knowledge index and global competitiveness index). The relationship between these dependent and independent variables has been analyzed using the "generalized structural equation modeling" technique. 
Discussion and Conclusion: The findings of the article from the aforementioned analyzes show that for a university to achieve a competent performance in the global arena, simply having access to funds, resources and material facilities is not enough; Rather, a university's achievement of a competent performance in this field requires livability in a competent biome. A decent biome has at least 7 basic features: 
1. The free and competitive economy that is current in advanced countries
2. An open and free society, which is a necessary condition for free thinking, scientific freedom, freedom of expression and behavior based on rationality, science and ethics
 3. A free, stable and Sustainable political system, which is a necessary condition for the formation of good governance
 4. A competent institutional regime that forms the main components of good governance at the micro and macro level
 5. The existence of advanced information and communication technology that facilitates national and international interactions of universities
6. Advanced knowledge economy which, in addition to scientific funds, expands the opportunity and capacity of internal and international interactions of the university; And finally
 7. Competent interactions and performance at the national level, which provides more resources and opportunities for international interactions
Policy suggestions: According to these results, it is suggested to the leaders, politicians and policy makers of knowledge-based development in general, and science, technology and innovation policy makers in particular in developing countries (especially Iran), if they want to have thriving universities in To have a global arena, do the following actions: 
1. Amending the laws and regulations of the country in line with free and competitive economy
2. Amending the country's laws and regulations in order to increase interaction and coordination with the economy and the world community
3. Reforming the country's foreign policies in line with the active and effective emergence of universities, non-governmental organizations and the government in relevant international assemblies and organizations
4. Amending the laws and regulations of the country in order to open and liberalize the social and cultural affairs of the society
5. Amending the laws and regulations of the country in order to establish the principles of good governance at micro and macro levels
6. Development of global interactions between the government and universities based on the principles of good governance
7. Increasing domestic and foreign investment to expand and improve information and communication technology
8. Increasing domestic and foreign investment in the production, distribution, delivery and use of new knowledge; And finally
9. Increasing domestic and foreign investment in scientific funds and technologies used in the country's universities

Keywords

References

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