A Systematic Approach to Higher Education in Iran, Germany, and the United States (A review of studies)

Introduction: The higher education system around the world has been faced with changes in its specialties which have created different expectations. In the meantime, one of the key strategies for capacity building and making the most of higher education’s potential for social and economical development is to conduct comparative studies and take advantage of advanced countries’ experiences in higher education policy making and approaches. The purpose of the present study is to present a systematic approach to the three higher education systems of Iran, Germany and the United States to explore the commonalities and functional differentiations of their higher education, together with a critique and analysis of the current status of the Iranian higher education system. Methods: The present study is an analytical documentary method. Data collection tools were documents, databases, books, internal and external articles. Therefore, first the research related texts were explored using reports and academic documents related to US, German and Iranian higher education from domestic and foreign studies by keywords: American, German, and Iranian higher education in databases and documents: Internal: Magiran, Ensani, Normags and external databases: Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, World Education News & Reviews, US The UNESCO Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, USNEI, European University Institute. In addition, 63 out of 100 sources were finalized to meet the research objective. The studies were carried out in the time period of (1377-1396) and (2000-2018). Therefore, the findings were first adjusted and then the current status of Iranian higher education was analyzed after extracting the data and observations Results: Higher education in these countries have been analyzed in the next five systematic model (environment, input, process, output and outcome). Conclusion: Considering the importance of a systematic approach in recognizing higher education as a system, in the context of the systematic review of the higher education system in these countries, the current situation of higher education in the country was also criticized and analyzed at the end of policy recommendations. The basis of the research findings is expressed as guidelines for higher education.