عبدالرحیم نوه ابراهیم

The present study was conducted with the aim of designing a model of professional competencies of vocational school principals with an open innovation approach and its validation. Qualitative research is a classic foundation data type. Participants include 20 experts and the director of the conservatory, purposefully sampled and interviewed in a semi-structured manner. The data are encoded using MAXQDAv2020 software, and the researcher has used the Strauss and Corbin acceptance indicators, the technique of visit by members and the self-review approach for validation of the research model. The findings show that the model of professional competencies of the directors of technical and vocational schools with open innovation approach includes 9 main competencies and 20 sub-competencies as follow: social competencies (cultural competence, social responsibility); Cognitive competencies (self-confidence and self-assurance, perfectionism and professional development); Specialized competencies (technical, scientific and functional competencies); Knowledge competencies (general level knowledge, basic level knowledge and professional level knowledge competencies); Attitudinal competencies (systemic thinking and problem solving strategy competencies); Personality competencies (self-awareness and independence, positivity and realism); Communication and networking (competence to establish external and internal communications); Developmental competencies (advocacy for IT, transformation and change management); Strategic and leadership competencies (goal-oriented and planning competencies). The listed methods for validating the model show that it has the necessary validity. The findings of this study provide implications for training and improving the directors of vocational schools in accordance with the identified professional competencies.

INTRODUCTION: The quality of education and accreditation of universities, institutions, and educational centers has always been of great concern to many groups, including managers, officials, students, parents, and employers, in the past hundred years. The purpose of current research is to design the accreditation model of applied science higher education institutions. METHODS: This qualitative research was conducted using qualitative content analysis. Its statistical population includes articles, documents, and all the key informants of applied science higher education institutions in Tehran. A total of 21 key informants were selected using the purposive and snowball sampling method and maximum diversity technique. The data were collected by semi-structured interview, observation, review of documents and scientific texts and analyzed by using MAXQDA-2022 software and weighting of factors, criteria, and indicators with the Shannon entropy method and prioritization with RANK function in Excel. FINDINGS: The results demonstrated that after weighting and prioritizing, the final research model included 33 factors, 101 criteria, and 704 indicators. There are 27 input factors, 4 process factors, 1 output factor and 1 outcome factor. CONCLUSION: The current accreditation model was prepared in accordance with the conditions of applied science higher education institutions using domestic and international experiences with a systemic approach (input, process, output, and outcome) in the form of factors, criteria, and indicators and can be used by the University of Applied Science and Technology.

Purpose: The continuous improvement of the performance of Sama schools through the effective dimensions and components let to create a competitive advantage for Sama schools. Therefore, the aim of this study was identifying the dimensions and components of continuous improvement of the performance of Sama primary schools. Methodology: This research in terms of purpose and implementation method was applied and qualitative from type of exploratory, respectively. The statistical population of the current study was all the faculty members of the educational management field, Sama staff managers, school principals, teachers and trainers, and students of Sama, which according to the principle of theoretical saturation number of 20 people of them were selected as a sample. The samples of the present study were subjected to a semi-structured interview, which its validity was confirmed by the triangulation method, and its reliability was obtained by the method of agreement coefficient between two coders 0.89, and the data obtained from the interview were analyzed by thematic analysis method in MAXQDA software. Findings: The findings showed that the continuous improvement of the performance of Sama primary schools had 65 concepts, 11 components and 4 dimensions. Its dimensions and components were included educational equipment and facilities (with two components of hardware infrastructure and educational and teaching aids), professional capabilities and skills (with two components of professional skills of teachers and trainers and professional skills of managers), program-oriented (with three components of teaching and learning process, research program and training program) and managerial competencies (with four components of financial resources management, strategic thinking, systematic evaluation and internal and external communication). In the end, the theme network pattern of continuous improvement of the performance of Sama primary schools was designed. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, in order to continuous improvement of the performance of Sama primary schools must use the identified dimensions and components for it and provide the ground for their implementation.