Designing the Professional Growth Model of Professors with the Approach of Reflective Teacher Training in Islamic Azad University, Sari Branch
Keywords:
Professional development, Reflective instructor, Empowerment, Higher education, Islamic Azad UniversityAbstract
This study aimed to design and validate a professional development model for faculty members based on the reflective instructor approach at the Islamic Azad University, Sari Branch. This applied research employed a mixed-methods exploratory design. In the qualitative phase, data were collected through semi-structured Delphi interviews with 15 academic experts selected purposefully until theoretical saturation and analyzed using open, axial, and selective coding. Based on qualitative findings, a 92-item researcher-developed questionnaire covering six main categories (causal conditions, central phenomenon, contextual conditions, intervening conditions, strategies, and outcomes) was constructed and content validated. In the quantitative phase, 225 full-time, part-time, and adjunct faculty members from the 2023–2024 academic year were randomly selected. Data were analyzed using SPSS and AMOS through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, one-sample t-tests, and structural equation modeling. All identified components showed significant and positive t-values and factor loadings, indicating their meaningful effect on faculty professional growth. Model fit indices were acceptable (RMSEA=0.063, CFI=0.912, IFI=0.931), confirming the validity of the proposed model. The findings revealed that specialized, professional, and general empowerment strategies, along with supportive causal and contextual conditions and controlled intervening factors, effectively foster reflective instructor development. The validated model offers a localized, evidence-based framework for enhancing professional competencies and cultivating reflective instructors. Emphasizing supportive environments, individual and organizational values, and empowerment strategies can improve teaching and research quality and strengthen higher education institutions.
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