Modeling the Key Factors of Sustainable Development Education Strategies at Farhangian University with a Mixed Exploratory Approach

Authors

    Saeed Amiyan Department of Public Administration, Bonab Branch, Islamic Azad University, Bonab, Iran.
    Yahya Dadash Karimi * Department of Public Administration, Bonab Branch, Islamic Azad University, Bonab, Iran. dadashkarimi@bonabiau.ac.ir
    Jafar Beikzad Department of Public Administration, Bonab Branch, Islamic Azad University, Bonab, Iran.
    Farhad Nejad Irani Department of Public Administration, Bonab Branch, Islamic Azad University, Bonab, Iran.

Keywords:

Higher education, sustainable development, Farhangian University, strategic model

Abstract

This study aimed to develop a strategic educational model emphasizing sustainable development at Farhangian University to address new higher education needs and enhance educational sustainability. This applied research employed a sequential exploratory mixed-method design. In the qualitative phase, purposive sampling and semi-structured interviews with 17 educational experts and policymakers identified key components; validity was ensured through participant checking, peer review, and researcher self-evaluation. In the quantitative phase, data were collected from 322 faculty and staff across six provincial units using a researcher-made questionnaire with confirmed content validity and Cronbach’s alpha of 0.92. Thematic analysis was used for qualitative data, and the conceptual model was validated using structural equation modeling with AMOS. A total of 318 initial codes were extracted and categorized into 26 organizing themes and 8 overarching components: pedagogy elements and dimensions, sustainable research, functional-structural requirements, social sustainability, economic sustainability, scientific and academic identity, university research, and scientific diplomacy in the era of globalization. Confirmatory factor analysis showed factor loadings above 0.50 and good model fit indices. The quantitative results indicated that sustainable development indicators were not at a satisfactory level and require fundamental transformation. Achieving sustainable development in higher education requires revising macro-educational strategies, strengthening research infrastructures, and expanding international scientific engagement. The proposed model provides a practical framework for policy-making and planning to guide Farhangian University and other higher education institutions toward becoming sustainable universities.

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Published

2024-12-10

Submitted

2024-07-07

Revised

2024-10-31

Accepted

2024-11-07

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 3 (2024): Serial Number 7

Section

مقالات

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Saeed Amiyan (Author); Yahya Dadash Karimi; Jafar Beikzad, Farhad Nejad Irani (Author)

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Amiyan, S. ., Dadash Karimi, Y., Beikzad, J. ., & Nejad Irani, F. . (1403). Modeling the Key Factors of Sustainable Development Education Strategies at Farhangian University with a Mixed Exploratory Approach. Training, Education, and Sustainable Development, 2(3). https://journaltesd.com/index.php/tesd/article/view/218

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