Humanities’ Challenges in Iranian Higher Education: Students’ Views on the Quality of Teaching and Learning

Author(s):

Nematollah Azizi

Conference:

ECER 2008

Network:

22. Research in Higher Education

Format:

Paper

Session Information

22 SES 01C, Quality in Teaching and Learning in Universities

Paper Session

Time:

2008-09-10

09:15-10:45

Room:

B2 215

Chair:

Elinor Edvardsson Stiwne

Contribution

Reviewing of higher education transformations and its quantitative and qualitative development in recent years reveals several challenges and shortcomings which are deeply rooted in the country’s current policies, planning and strategies in higher education. This problematic situation in humanities and social sciences is much more critical. This is while that as a result of rapid ICT developments, globalization and removing some intellectual and philosophical borders, new patterns for higher education and the new generations of universities have emerged. Therefore, in addition to current problems, our universities are facing a series of new challenges and also, new responsibilities which can not be tackled successfully except by re-engineering the system of higher education in the country. This paper then, aims to analyze current academic practices challenges and shortcomings, and to suggest applicable strategies for improving the quality of teaching and learning processes in higher education in general and in humanities in particular.

Method

As a qualitative research, for data collection, semi-stractured interviews and focused group disscussions were used for both postgraduate and undergraduate students in humanities.

Expected Outcomes

The study findings show that a disturbing mismacth existes between what itanian society needs of higher education in humanities and what it is receiving. In addition to this, the weak relation with the labour market, low quality of teaching and learning interactions, low research performance of staffs, and ... are among the most reffered challenges.

References

Azizi, N. and Lasonen, J. (2006) Education, training and the Economy: Preparing Young People for a Changing Labour market. Institute for Educational Research: Jyvaskyla University Press. Bok, D. (1990) Universities and the Future of America , Durham: Duke University Press, p. 9. Harvey, L. (1999) ‘New realities: the relationship between higher education and employment’, Keynote presentation at the European Association of Institutional Research Forum, Lund, Sweden: August. Hooker, M. (1997) The Transformation of Higher Education, in D. Oblinger, and S. C. Rush (eds). The Learning Revolution, Bolton, MA: Anker Publishing Company, INC. Kerr, C. (1994) Troubled Times for American Higher Education: The 1990s and Beyond , Albany: State University of New York Press , p. 51. Lankard, B. A. (1994) The Place of the Humanities in Continuing Higher Education. ERIC Digest No. 145. Lloyd, G. E. R. (2004) Ancient Worlds, Modern Reflections: Philosophical Perspectives on Greek and Chinese Science and Culture, (Oxford: Oxford University Press, p. 142. Lyotard, J. F. (1984) The Postmodern Condition: A Report on Knowledge, trans. Geoff Bennington and Brian Massumi, Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, p. 51. McIntire, M. (1990) "The Humanities in Texas Continuing Education." TACSCE RESEARCH ANNUAL 1990. VOLUME 6, NUMBER 1. Texas Association for Community Service and Continuing Education, Fall. Humanities Massachusset Foundation (MFH) (2005) What Are Humanities, Massachusset Foundation for the Humanities, retrieved from http://www.mfh.org/foundation/human.htm. Nussbaum, M. C. (1997) Cultivating Humanity. A Classical Defense of Reform in Liberal Education, Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, p. 20. Ohio Humanities Council (OHC) (1991) GUIDE TO GRANTS FOR PUBLIC HUMANITIES PROGRAMS. Columbus: Ohio Humanities Council. The British Academy (2004) Response to the Government’s Consultation Paper on “Science and innovation: working a ten-year investment framework”, 30 April. Warehime, N. (1993) To Be One of Us: Cultural Conflict, Creative Democracy, and Education , Albany: State University of New York Press, p. 1.

Author Information

Nematollah Azizi

University of Kurdistan

Education

Sanandaj

102

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