Challenges and strategies for the promotion of research in Tabriz University of Medical Sciences: The Analysis of stakeholders’ views

Abstract

The intention of this study was to identifying and prioritizing challenges in research in Tabriz University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Iran, and giving exact solutions to remove those challenges from the perspective of stakeholders (the members of faculty board, students, administrators, and research staff of the university). This mix-method study (quantitative-qualitative) conducted in summer-2014 in TUMS. The participants of this study included 139 of the members of faculty board, 349 of the students, and 39 of administrators and research staff (in total, 525 individuals). The data collection tool in the qualitative section was an open-ended questionnaires (3 questions), and in the quantitative section it consists close question questionnaires (26 questions). For prioritizing these challenges, it was used by prioritization matrix that it had four criteria: Importance, the ability to solve, cost-effectiveness and immediacy. The important challenges from the perspective of participant included: Lack of cooperations of administrative centers with researchers, the existence of cumbersome rules, lack of motivation in researchers from authorities, being non-economic of doing a research to the professors and students, The lack of research result in decision-making, the low capacity and ability of members of faculty board, students, and staff on issues related to research procedures, and lack of attention to the quality of research. Lack of attention to the quality of research, and the existence of cumbersome rules in research area have the most priority in challenging research in TUMS, which they need more attention and planning to resolve these challenges of the authorities and managers of this university.

Exploring the experience of medical faculty members about the challenges of academic faculty promotion system in the Iranian context: a qualitative study

“…Less attention to the quality of research and the existence of rigorous rules of research process have been counted as the most important challenges facing the faculty members in the research process. (22). It is consistent with our study outcomes.…”

Research barriers from the viewpoint of faculty members and students of Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Iran, 2014

“…1 Also, research is the foundation of development of human societies and without the support of research no scientific and rational movement is possible. 2 In addition, the universities and research institutes are considered as the main institutions of the research and development of countries; because they are based on three pillars, the management of research, researcher and research tools and have a prominent role in the research and scientific development through the activities such as determining the research topics needed by the society, determining the research priorities, acceptance and implementation of needed research of society and organizations, education of the students having study skills, organizing and monitoring the research activities, classification and making applicable of the research results and so on. 1 Results of the study show that the despite the growth of fifty percent of Iran in the science production in 2008, we have still distance from competing countries in the region and this distance is deeper in the field of social sciences and humanities.…”

Experiences of Selected Students in the Scientific Olympiad for Medical Students – A Qualitative Study

“…Recent developments have occurred for science topics and science education in all over the world, and scientific advancements are considered as one of the most important indicators for a country [1]. This issue has changed the universities mission to doing their social responsibility, which is also the expert individuals training [2]. Our society requires the high ability individuals with their thoughts, reasons, and their theoretical, critical and analytical skills with high ability [3,4].…”