Elements and Dimensions of Sustainability in Iran's Higher Education System, and Comparison of Public and Non-Governmental Academic Approaches

Purpose: The main purpose of the research is to study the elements and dimensions of university sustainability and to present a comprehensive conceptual model for the realization of sustainable university in the Iranian higher education system and to compare the approach of public and non-governmental universities. Methodology: The research approach is applied in terms of purpose and in terms of data collection method is descriptive-correlational. And in terms of a mixed method, it is done in two parts: qualitative and quantitative. In the qualitative section, the components of sustainable university were identified by conducting semi-structured interviews with 17 higher education experts and policymakers selected through purposeful sampling. The process of gathering information continued until theoretical saturation. To validate qualitative findings from participant and coworker review strategies and inductive content analysis method for data analysis, the research method was quantitative descriptive - survey. The research instrument was a researcher-made questionnaire consisting of 8 subscales and its content extracted from qualitative data. The population consisted of 322 faculty members of public and non-governmental universities selected according to Cochran formula. The construct validity of the instrument was confirmed by experts and its reliability was calculated by Cronbach's alpha. Data were analyzed using SPSS and AMOS software. Findings: The results of data analysis in the coding process were finally categorized into 26 axial categories and 8 selective codes. The findings included eight main categories of pedagogy elements and dimensions in learning processes, sustainable research, functional structural requirements, social sustainability, economic sustainability, academic and academic identity and academic diplomacy in the age of globalization. The results of the quantitative section also showed the difference of sustainability indices in public and non-public universities. Conclusion: Finally, the results showed that universities need to move towards sustainability in order to maintain their stability in the current situation. Accordingly, a sustainable university is a university with a sustainable strategy and strategy, a transversal and community-based vision of implementing sustainable principles and concepts in sustainable teaching-learning functions, sustainable research, strengthening democratic society, minimizing environmental, economic impacts. It is socially and hygienically, and has functional structural requirements, academic and academic interactions, a well-defined and robust economic and financial system that has always sought to strengthen the identity of professional citizens in support of a sustainable and pioneering society.