The Impact of Research-Oriented Universities on Sustainable Educational Development in Universities of Mazandaran Province

Abstract

The primary objective of the present study was to examine the impact of research-oriented universities with a fifth-generation approach on the sustainable development of universities in Mazandaran Province and to propose a corresponding model. This study was applied and fundamental in terms of its objective and utilized an exploratory mixed-methods design (qualitative–quantitative) based on the nature of the data. In the qualitative phase, grounded theory methodology was employed, whereas the quantitative phase used a descriptive-survey method. The statistical population in the qualitative phase comprised experts, scholars, and faculty members of universities in Mazandaran Province. In the quantitative phase, the population included 5,878 university faculty members. In the qualitative section, purposive non-random sampling was used, and the sample size was determined based on the saturation principle, resulting in 10 participants. In the quantitative section, a stratified random sampling method based on academic rank was used, and the sample size was calculated to be 361 individuals using Cochran’s formula. For data collection, the qualitative phase employed semi-structured interviews, while the quantitative phase utilized two instruments: a researcher-made questionnaire on research-oriented universities with a fifth-generation approach consisting of 50 items, and the Sustainable Development Questionnaire developed by Arab (2023) comprising 25 items. For data analysis, theoretical coding (open, axial, and selective) was applied in the qualitative phase, and confirmatory factor analysis, exploratory factor analysis, and structural equation modeling were used in the quantitative phase to examine the research questions. The findings indicated that research-oriented universities with a fifth-generation approach encompass seven dimensions: "research-oriented education and curriculum planning, research-based processes, research-oriented management and leadership, development of soft skills, advancement of modern technologies, promotion of interdisciplinary education, and international interaction and collaboration." Moreover, the impact of research-oriented universities with a fifth-generation approach on sustainable development in the universities of Mazandaran Province was found to be positive and significant. The proposed model demonstrated a good fit.