The Analysis of the Internal and External Environments of Private Institutions of Higher Education in Iran and Providing Optimal Strategies Based on SWOT

Abstract

The government policies of Islamic Republic of Iran in the framework of Development Plan Law, on the one hand, and the activaion of private sector in the country's educational structure, the sphere of higher education in Iran is faced with dramatic changes in the last decade. Meanwhile, the rapid development of non-governmental private institutions of higher education due to the increasing social demand for entry to higher education in Iran is important. But soon the problems and challenges faced by institutions such as the reduced quality of education, seats left empty and financial losses incurred eventually lead to bankruptcy and closing of a number of them.

In this research, due to the special role of private higher education institutions in providing educational services, the need of the country to establish specialized institutions and also the wave of migration of students to the universities with poor quality abroad, the current situation of the country and the challenges faced by private higher education institutions in Iran are descrobed. Through interviews with 10 expert teachers, the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of these institutions based on SWOT are determined and the optimal strategies for the excellence of them are introduced that Defensive position non-profit institutions of higher education in Iran have been achieved.

Keywords: Private Higher Education Institutions, Analysis of SWOT, Optimal Strategies