Journal of Education and Health Promotion

Assessment of educational criteria in academic promotion: Perspectives of faculty members of medical sciences universities in Iran

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

. Mina Tootoonchi
. Nikoo Yamani 1
. Tahereh Changiz 1
. Fariba Taleghani
. Zahra Mohammadzadeh 2

1 Department of Medical Education, Medical Education Research Center

2 Department of Public Health, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract
Introduction: One of the important criteria in the promotion of faculty members is in the scope of
their educational roles and duties. The purpose of this study was the assessment of reasonability
and attainability of educational criteria for scientific rank promotion from the perspective of
the faculty members of Medical Sciences Universities in Iran. Materials and Methods: This
descriptive study was conducted in 2011 in 13 Universities of Medical Sciences in Iran. Through
stratified sampling method, 350 faculty members were recruited. A questionnaire developed by
the researchers was used to investigate the reasonability and attainability of educational criteria
with scores from 1 to 5. The self-administered questionnaire was distributed and collected
at each university. The mean and standard deviation of reasonability and attainability scores
were calculated and reported by using the SPSS software version 16. Results: Faculty members
considered many criteria of educational activities reasonable and available (with a mean score
of more than 3). The highest reasonability and attainability have been obtained by the quantity
and quality of teaching with the mean scores (3.93 ± 1.15 and 3.82 ± 1.17) and (3.9 ± 1.22
and 4.13 ± 1.06) out of five, respectively. The mean and standard deviation of total scores of
reasonability of educational activities were 50.91 ± 14.22 and its attainability was 60.3 ± 13.72
from the total score of 90. Discussion and Conclusion: The faculty members of the Universities of
Medical Sciences in Iran considered the educational criteria of promotion moderately reasonable
and achievable. It is recommended to revise these criteria and adapt them according to the mission
and special conditions of medical universities. Furthermore, providing feedback of evaluations,
running educational researches, and implementing faculty development programs are suggested.

Keywords

Academic promotion
criteria
education
faculty member
Iran
universities of medical sciences
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Journal of Education and Health Promotion
Volume 4, Issue 2
Spring 2014
Pages 1-6

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