Interdisciplinary Studies in the Humanities

Abstract Science diplomacy is an interdisciplinary concept, and specifically in the discussion of Iraq, areas such as science and technology, international relations, foreign policy, the military-field, and the discursive field are the most important conceptual sources that form it. This research seeks to answer the question of how the scientific diplomacy of the Islamic Republic of Iran with Iraq is formulated and what are the most important challenges of scientific cooperation between Iran and Iraq? This multidimensional research was conducted in a qualitative paradigm. The data and information collection method was a combination of documentary and library sources, semi-structured and interactive interviews, participant observation, expert interviews, and holding expert panel meetings and obtaining the views of relevant institutions and organizations. In this study, the four dimensions of educational, research, cultural, and executive science diplomacy between Iran and Iraq will be examined. Increasing the role of overseas agents in the field of diplomacy, especially strengthening the role of scientific advisors and technology advisors in identifying the capacities of the destination country and introducing Iran's capacities, developing a roadmap centered on the institutions responsible for the science and technology sector, regulating the bureaucracy of international interactions between academic and industrial actors, and facilitating consular procedures for non-Iranian nationals, Developing an input and output database for higher education institutions in order to strengthen networking and benefit from individual expertise, continuously assessing the market needs and environmental conditions of the destination country, striving for a unified and realistic definition of the world and international relations, increasing the cultural literacy of players in the field of scientific diplomacy and the internationalization of universities in particularو Investing in increasing the quality of human resources in this field can be effective in advancing Iran's scientific diplomacy.

Abstract For several decades, countries around the world have recognized the significance of development in attaining human excellence, eradicating inequality, and establishing social justice. They have prioritized the pursuit of development goals as the focal point of their macro policies. Since women constitute half of the population, it is crucial to prioritize their education. Higher education plays a key role in shaping human resources, underscoring the significance of promoting women's education and giving due attention to single-sex universities. The current research utilizes a qualitative approach within the interpretivism paradigm, employing the content analysis method to explore the lived experiences of students studying in a single-sex environment of Alzahra University. The research participants are comprised of female undergraduate students, selected through purposive sampling. The findings represent across four dimensions: the individual dimension, which includes aspects such as self-confidence, freedom of expression, respect, a safe and comfortable environment, stress control, good feeling, support, flexibility, feminine feeling, mutual understanding, focus on lessons and academic progress, spirit of questioning, jealousy, and a lack of interest in university, school-like environment, and clothing. Social dimension encompasses harmony, social communication, shared thoughts, and a lack of social communication with the opposite sex. Cultural dimension involves factors such as not allowing education and choosing a university based on values and versatility. The cognitive dimension includes learning topics in a theoretical and non-practical way, a focus on obtaining grades, and a lack of connection with the labor market.

Abstract University, as a crucial social context, not only facilitates continuous scientific experience but also plays a pivotal role in shaping students' character through diverse interactions and situations. This study aims to examine how universities help contribute the formation of students' character. This study employs a mixed-method approach (quantitative-qualitative). The quantitative phase involves a random sampling of 290 undergraduate and graduate students from Tehran universities, using researcher-developed questionnaires. Quantitative data are analyzed using statistical software. The qualitative phase consists of in-depth interviews with higher education managers and experts, analyzed through thematic analysis. Findings reveal that moral character significantly predicts students' academic performance and the development of ethical and social virtues and attitudes. The data analysis identifies four main dimensions in enhancing students’ character: 1) Empowering and virtue-oriented attitudes (including intellectual growth, mindfulness, and self-efficacy); 2) Personality attitudes (including extraversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness); 3) Social attitudes (including novelty-seeking, harm avoidance, and active agency), and 4) Ethical attitudes (including moral education, learning from experience, and cultivation of human values). The university's central role in creating an environment for interaction, learning, and growth of these attitudes is also highlighted.

Abstract With the disintegration of the Soviet Union in the 1990s, the understanding of power also gradually changed. Soft power by modifying the limited focus of realist power analysis i.e. possessing specific tangible resources to maintain and increase national power, introduces persuasive power; the ability to shape the desires of others not by force but through persuasion distinguishes between hard and soft power. In terms of effectiveness, it clearly showed the nature of the behavior and the concreteness of the resources. In Joseph Nye's explanation, soft power is an analytical concept that matches and overlaps with realist, liberal, and constructivist views and theories. Higher education can be regarded as an apparatus of soft power, thereby entailing examination of its relationship with other international theories.  The basic question is the position of the soft power of higher education in international theories and how it can be theoretically explained in the theories that have also observed pragmatic behaviors. Here, by explaining higher education as a cultural matter and an apparatus of soft power, we demonstrate its relationship with the theories of realism, liberalism and constructivism. Methodologically, we are conducting an interdisciplinary study, citing library studies and explaining descriptive review. In examining each of these theories, we present narratives, conceptual and theoretical frameworks regarding the role of the soft power of higher education to explain its role in domestic development and national interests in various political, social, cultural, technological and economic fields, maintaining peace and preventing conflict as well as its role in expanding public diplomacy and soft power of higher education.

Abstract The purpose of this study is to identify and determine key factors, emerging trends and driving forces in the development of future faculty promotion regulations (FPR) and evaluate the structural relationship between key factors over the Horizon 2035. For this purpose, relying on a mixed methodology and using the literature review, interviews, the cross-impact analysis matrix, MicMac software and expert panels, key factors are identified and the relationship of influence and dependence between them are structurally analyzed. As a result, five forces including "Discourse governing higher education in Iran", "Society (industry, market and government) expectation of higher education", "Economics of higher education", "Competitiveness and internationalization of higher education" and "Emerging challenges and development of Interdisciplinary sciences" are considered as drivers of change in the subject of research and the function and influence of each in the future of the faculty promotion system is explained. Accordingly, upgrading future editions of FPR requires alignment with the identified drivers, considering structural complexities between key factors and adapting to changes in the social, economic and political environment through interdisciplinary and futuristic approaches.

Abstract Considering the impact of fourth generation universities on social, economic and, cultural developments as well as the growth and development of local and regional communities, the main purpose of this article is to study the dimension and develop a fourth-generation university model for Iranian universities. The study was conducted within the framework of a qualitative approach and using the grounded theory strategy. The statistical population included experts and specialists in the field of higher education. Using the purposive sampling method, the required data was gathered through semi-structured interviews with 25 experts. The data analysis was performed using MAXQDA software and based on Strauss and Corbin design in three stages of open, axial and selective coding. To validate and review the results, they were given to the interviewees and then using the peer review technique by five experts of higher education, the validity of the research was confirmed. Findings showed that the component of responsible value-creating university as a central phenomenon, transformationalism and adaptability as causal factors, responsible leadership, development of professional skills of human capital and developer curriculum as action strategies, components of specialized and professional policy-making, culture responsible innovation culture and transformational structure were identified as underlying conditions, whereas; academic independence and developer financial models were identified as the intervening components of the fourth generation university. The main consequence of the interaction of all the mentioned components is regional development, which plays a vital role in the development and growth of the local and national community in areas such as: cultural, social, economic and environmental.

Abstract To learn participatory and pragmatic urban planning, students have to engage with the society in real and ultra-disciplinary settings. In some universities, such an opportunity is provided through provision of voluntary civil services. But this kind of services has not been included in the official programs of the urban planning in Iran while the highly centralized academic administration makes any formal alteration very difficult. The aim of this article is to examine the possibility of introducing civil services within the current administration. It was pursued through an action research which tried to establish service at studio level. This kind of service is mostly known as “service-learning”. A review of the literature showed that service-learning in the field of urban planning suffers from the isolation of universities from the society. This problem manifests itself at two levels: the administrative structure and the professional techniques of participation. Focusing on the professional level, the pragmatic formulation of democratic engagement of universities is reviewed. Using this foundation, an alternative method of participation based on the analogy and metaphor is introduced. This method was adopted, reflected on and reformed within three semesters of action research. The final edition of the method satisfactorily eased the technical problems and justified the voluntary service for students within the current administration. But the collaborating professors rejected the sufficiency of the mere method, without structural modifications. The probable reasons for that rejection are discussed for further studies.

Abstract The purpose of this study is to explain the prerequisites and mechanism of interdisciplinary curriculum in order to realize comprehensive episteme. The research method in this article is analytical-deductive. Two important questions are going to be answered: "1) What are the prerequisites for interdisciplinary curriculum? 2) What is the mechanism for substantiation in the acquired episteme through interdisciplinary curriculum in higher education?" According to the findings, the most important prerequisite for interdisciplinary curriculum is understanding the importance of interdisciplinarity in learner's self-directing. It is necessary for relevant practitioners to realize that the division of subjects into separate syllabus makes it difficult to connect the concept. The current discipline-based curriculum does not provide learners to develop higher cognitive skills, which neglects dimensions of insight and skills of learning. Also, since comprehensive episteme is learning that includes cognition, insight, and skill,the academic curriculum must be conducive so that learners can reach all aspects of comprehensive episteme. The mechanism of interdisciplinary curriculum is to provide opportunity for discussion and thinking. It is also a means for professors to become acquainted with new teaching methods, make assessment of local and national needs, consider the results within the curriculum content and finally apply an appropriate evaluation method. By using interdisciplinary curriculum, it is possible to realize the comprehensive episteme of the university's prominent goals.

Abstract From the perspective of the new world through criticism, education & cultural manifestation, traditionalism as a strong intellectual current in the contemporary world wants to make new order in the field of culture ,science ,& education. .In the recent decade this current, which is based on a philosophical & mystic tradition, has, found  its role in the minds of many different countries & cultures. Accordingly, the educational and scientific programs related to the contemporary traditionalism which is influenced by ideas of Seyed Hossein Nasr in Iran have been valid. This paper reviews the critics of thought, especially Seyed Hossein Nasr. The  content & structure of modern science and scientific system corresponding to the alternative proposal are discussed in an interdisciplinary approach. Thus on the one hand, responding to the interdisciplinary approach of traditionalisms in contemporary world and on the other hand, alternatively returning to metaphysic tradition and not just the past, provides opportunity to understand the whole system of thought that includes the sciences such as philosophy, theology, mystic, history, psychology , art, politics and the Exacts science . In this article we will try to look at the future of science according to the critical view of Seyed Hossein Nasr towards scientific system. This approach argues that this scientific system is rooted in metaphysics an  inversion of modern era.

Abstract Psychology as a hub science has a good capacity to connect human sciences. Purposes of this article were: Reviewing historical interest among psychologist for interdisciplinary studies; Investigating common issues between psychology and other human sciences; Explaining psychological causes for failures of interdisciplinary studies in human sciences in Iran; Clarifying role of interdisciplinary institutions for higher education development; Presenting ways for integrating psychologist in interdisciplinary studies in Iran. Interdisciplinary studies need to develop interdisciplinary institutions that consider psychological, social and moral needs of human being and society. In Iran, maladaptive group process in team work, self-serving bias and shortages of interdisciplinary institutions as a social scaffolding for developing of human science may probably explain failures of interdisciplinary cooperation. Development of interdisciplinary institutions which psychology could have an active role needs to alter educational curriculums for psychology, developing new domain of psychology, and adopting discursive perspectives in psychology.

Abstract Environmental problems, expanding knowledge and developing new technologies for environmental curriculum in higher education require planning environmental curriculum and developing academic thinking in relation to the dynamics of past, present and future. The purpose of present study is to analyze the interdisciplinary curriculum of environmental education in higher education. The research methodology is descriptive. The research population is composed of 759 professors and students of environmental education at Iranian universities, including 40 teachers and 719 students. The sampling of students was random; based on the proposed model by Morgan and Krejcie, 250 students were selected. However, the professors were selected using census mthod. The research data were collected using questionnaires developed by the researchers in this study. The validity was assessed 0.8, using opinions of experts and Lawshe’s Formula, and the reliability was calculated 0.806 based on Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. The SWOT matrix was used for the analysis and interpretation of the data. Considering the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, the current strategy of higher education system in the environmental curriculum, is an offensive strategy, a strategy that uses the strengths and takes advantage of opportunities to advance the goals of development and progress. This type of strategy is the optimal strategy. 

Abstract Knowledge-oriented social life, society needs and problems complexity, expectation from universities for social services, innovation and academic entrepreneurship, problem-solving, and enriching education and research activities have transformed interdisciplinary activities development to strategic necessity in higher education. In recently half-century, interdisciplinary activities have had suitable outcomes and results for higher education system, industry and society. One of the most important interdisciplinary activities outcomes is inclination for designing and carrying out interdisciplinary activities by universities, industries, government, faculties, researchers and students. Iran's higher education and university system, the development of academic interdisciplinary towards defined goals and plan, so much success has not. With due consideration to importance and necessity of the interdisciplinary activities and existing challenges, by mixed qualitative research method, were investigated and analyzed why, what and how of interdisciplinary activities and its success factors and development requirements in universities. Finally, based on the study, six main factors and twelve key requirements for formation, growth and development of the interdisciplinary in higher education is derived and explained.

Abstract Interdisciplinary activities are frequently heralded as innovative and groundbreaking, a necessity for confronting the numerous social ,cultural and economic challenges facing higher education. This article considers the inherent conflict between the professoriate and the university structure related to interdisciplinary. It concentrates on strategies that cultivate the sort of change necessary for interdisciplinary advancement. The article addresses the engagement of faculty with interdisciplinary efforts and the institutional support of such work as requiring a cultural change in institutional behavior. Cultivating interdisciplinary change requires attention to the multiple cultural layers the university comprises. One emphasis must be placed on the basic structure of academic work, the departments and colleges, where faculty members spend a majority of their time and intellectual resources. Another emphasis occurs at the institutional level, when the campus fosters a culture where interdisciplinary work is valued, encouraged, and supported. This article focuses on these facets of change and offer guidelines for engaging faculty in interdisciplinary endeavors.

Abstract Higher education as a human resource development and production of knowledge system play an important role in economic development, social and cultural rights in any country. The role of human development, particularly in developing countries and experienced professionals, especially faculty is undeniable. In this twenty-year perspective can be considered for future community development. In this document, the need to develop human resources with advanced knowledge, enabling the production of science and technology, human resources and social capital rests on top of emphasis. Hence the importance of higher education can be realized in the future development of the country. 
Thus, the nature and quality of an institution of higher education depends on the quality of its faculty member. Respond to the emerging needs of the scientific communities interdisciplinary studies are needed. The article focus on the concept of the faculty development and different aspect of it then new approaches to the role of faculty in promoting interdisciplinary research located at the end of the analysis and new strategies is presented to improve the quality of interdisciplinary science.

Abstract Abstract Quality education and research, including the major concerns of higher education systems in most countries of the world.Surveys show that despite its role in human resource development and universities have always been the efforts of this is that they can train students to solve community problems, and failures of education is still lacking. University as an organization that plays an essential role in the development of scientific, cultural and professional training should keep pace with scientific developments, and educational needs of national and global scale, continuous process to improve their educational quality. This study examines some of the factors affecting educational quality has been improved. These include supporting students and professors, faculty, administrative services, library services, educational programs and locations, are infrastructure and facilities. To identify and ranking factors that influence the improving educational quality using the AHP approach is used to the opinions of130people of Professors and Students of the University. According to information obtained by using expert choice software provided training program with a weight 0.338 has the greatest impact on improving the quality of education. Then faculty members with weight 0.246, Supporting students and teachers with weight0.122, Location, infrastructure and facilities with weight0.103, Library Services with weight0.102, Administrative Services with weight0.089, The are next priorities

Abstract A battle of ideas on the conceptualization of producing, sharing, dissemination and application of knowledge in universities and higher education institutions is a complex issue that a lot of attention in the academic literature and management areas has focused on.  on the basis of studies, knowledge sharing in higher education as an interdisciplinary field of study that links between the two major "knowledge management" and “higher education" specially in higher education management, has been emerged. Many scholars and researchers have tried to respond to these questions: What are the factors that influence people in knowledge sharing? What are factors and possible reasons for sharing or not sharing? This paper discussed and explored the knowledge sharing phenomenon in higher education in an interdisciplinary field of study and, it has analyzed the factors affecting knowledge sharing among faculty members. The article ends with this conclusion that to explore the knowledge sharing phenomenon in higher education and theorizing in this field, understanding and analyzing the nature of knowledge, motivation and opportunity for sharing of knowledge are essential. The study has reviewed the results of two decades important empirical research in academic environment. Finally, with focus on current situation and potentiality of future research on knowledge sharing in academic environment a conceptual model has presented.

Abstract Ever increasing focus on interdisciplinary curricula in higher education is a sign of existing challenges which seriously criticize subject-oriented curricula. Globalization is the major player of this challenging field. Globalization has implications to the curriculum filed-except the paper's view- which the implications come from students accelerating and increasing access to academic documents through ICTs. Alongside being the world work market and new jobs and 
careers, taking new responsibilities, students call for new competencies to play their own roles as global, national and local citizens. Traditional curricula do not provide such opportunities. In line with this view, internationalization of higher education as a process is a strategy to reaction against the challenges which have rooted from globalization. This strategy is suggested and preferred by higher education experts and some world class and progressive universities.
This paper will briefly review the concept of globalization and internalization through its characteristics, and also will focus on globalizing and internationalizing of higher education curricula. Major part of the paper will stress on evidences and reasons for moving toward globalizing of higher education curricula on basis of global infrastructures and perspectives. Finally, the idea is that global citizenship competency-oriented curricula in higher education will respond to competencies of today world phenomenon and the rapid changes of the world.

Abstract Review and study how and type of planning system of higher education, is considered constant and serious. According to the needs and circumstances ,a variety of ideas, over time, have raised. In this article ,interdisciplinary approach including it's concepts, applications, conditions ,requirements and challenges by using of theoretical and analytic method has been studied. Results have indicated that the wide range of conceptual approaches, multiple levels and requirements .Despite of being numerous problems and complexity, it could be used in higher education ,an one effective approach , among or beside others, to address the new requirements and needs.

Abstract During recent years, policy-makers of higher education in Iran have paid special attention to interdisciplinarity and as a result, many different interdisciplinary programs have been established. Assessing these programs could guide one to understand the challenges, preventives, and the points of strength and weakness which might help to make improvements in future programming. M.A. program in Mathematics Education is one of the cited programs which is the result of combining Natural Sciences with Education. The present study is focused on this program and attempts to qualify it through observing different graduated people in the field from universities of Beheshti, Bahonar (Kerman), Radjai, Islamic Azad University (Science and Research Branch, and the Kerman Branch) who had graduated before oct. 2008. The research has been conducted through questionnaire, observation, making notes, and interview which have been analyzed by data coding and classification. Results clear the challenges M.A. program in Mathematics Education encounters which could help policy-makers to improve interdisciplines, especially ones which are the result of combining Basic Sciences with Education

Abstract The goal of this paper is to offer explanations with respect to some of the less evident aspects of this policy intent. The higher education systems, it is argued, are experiencing a challenging period where the felt need in this regard does not match the level of wisdom and the extent of insight required. The paper proceeds with a review of the literature in the curriculum field which aims at providing better understanding of different genres of curriculum integration concluding that this source although vital for policy makers at the higher education, will need to be further developed in order to match the complexities peculiar to higher education. The author, then, addresses the rationale for curriculum integration at higher education which he regards as manipulation of the current knowledge and technology map to address the emergent needs. This, he contends, requires concentration on a knowledge production system to meet the standard of a new knowledge domain. Without due attention to this prerequisite, the resulting product can not be regarded as a genuine interdisciplinary science and it will rather be looked upon as a mere addition or juxtaposition of two or mote extant knowledge fields. In the final section of the paper, five policy options are discussed.

Abstract Interdisciplinarity, interdisciplinary education and interdisciplinary curricula are increasingly used in Higher Education field. These terms are used with or interchangeably with similar terms such as multi-disciplinarity, pluridisciplinarity crossdisciplinarity and transdisciplinarity. Although interdisciplinary approach to curriculum lost its significance in last decades and disciplinary approached was focused for about two decades, but the ideas of interdisciplinary and integrated curricula are not new ones and are rooted in the thoughts of the previous scholars who were famous for their concerns about unity of knowledge, forming coherence, general and all-inclusive knowledge. In this paper while offering theoric and historical views on interdaisciplinarity, interdisciplinary approach to curriculum, academic disciplines, a variety of possible combinations of disciplines across curricula, a sociological criticism about disciplinary curriculum, a biological explanation for interdisciplinary curriculum, models, strategies, advantages, and pitfalls of interdisciplinary curriculum are discussed.

Abstract The “Virtual Global University (VGU)” is a new academic concept in literature of higher education. Basically Virtual Global University has been formed and developed to meet needs and challenges of word community in different ways. Having considered as a new scenario or even a substitution of traditional university, it is based on the following components: 1. International approach Virtual Global University is internationally aligned, while simultaneously responsive to the particular context of local and national higher education policy. 2. Technological approach Virtual Global University is technological solution for internationalization of higher education It is online education using ICT and networking and access to world higher education markets is its main goal. 3. Interdisciplinary approach. Through studying the interdisciplinary curricula, Virtual Global University graduates are expected to have the capacity to confront unfamiliar problems and to emerge from their university experience with a set of flexible and transferable skills for different types of employment in world community. In this paper with respect to the above-mentioned approaches, Virtual Global University strategy for Iranian higher education society has been discussed.

Abstract Interdisciplinaries in Higher Education
 
Social problems which threaten future life of human beings and capacities of modern technologies in challenging those problems have increased the need to launch interdisciplinary course. During the past 40 years, such courses have been very useful for human societies and researchers have come up with new methods to combine scientific interest with large-scale skills. Therefore, faculty members and students have been attracted to such courses. This paper will study conceptual nature of interdisciplinary courses and explains some relevant experiences as well as their fortes and weaknesses. In conclusion, proposals will be offered for launching interdisciplinary course.
 

Abstract According to the speedy progress of science and technology during the past years, different branches of science are more dispersed. As a result, there are fewer connections between them in the whole structure of science. On the other hand, solving complicated problems in the realms of science and technology needs more comprehensive perspectives. During the past years, considerable attentions have been paid to interdisciplinary studies, and according to the corresponding needs, it has also been extended to interdisciplinary education. However, it is not an easy task to apply the concept of interdisciplinary education. However, it is not an easy task to apply the concept of interdisciplinarity to various disciplines having different systems. This uncommon situation has made it subject of controversial debates. In other words, contrary to common belief that interdisciplinarity is merely based on the process of mixing different disciplines, it is a complicated issue needing special considerations. The first step is to know different aspects of interdisciplinarity and then analyzing the subject under consideration. In the present paper, the basic concepts of interdisciplinary are described by introducing its common terminology. Furthermore, some essential requirements for performing interdisciplinary programs (in higher education level) are discussed based on solid arguments and known facts. To this aim, the most commonly accepted standpoints about interdisciplinary education are used.
 

Abstract Interdisciplinary activities are in vogue and are used in institutional fields of “knowledge” and organizational gatherings form “education” and are creditable as a new method for knowledge production and educational policymaking. Despite sporadic resistance, “interdisciplinary activities” is not a focus of attention for institutions producing and promoting knowledge as well as organizational and social entities concerned with education. However, they are practically facing complex obstacles, serious challenges and criticism.
This descriptive – analytical paper which emphasizes on interdisciplinary higher education, maintains that the most important obstacles and challenges faced by interdisciplinary activities in the past three decades can be divided into “organizational”, “professtional”, and “cultural” obstacles, In conclusion, special obstacles and challenges to interdisciplinary programs in humanities have been explained.