Aims and Scope

Aims of the Journal of Governance and Policy Development in Higher Education (JGPDHE)

The Journal of Governance and Policy Development in Higher Education (JGPDHE) pursues the following objectives:

1. Knowledge Production and Dissemination: To produce and expand specialized knowledge in the domains of university governance, higher education policy, decision-making structures, and organizational reforms within higher education systems, adopting a critical, analytical, and evidence-based approach.

2. Academic-Policy Forum: To create an academic-policy forum for open and constructive dialogue among researchers, policymakers, university administrators, and higher education stakeholders concerning challenges, opportunities, and transformation strategies in this field.

3. Policy Analysis and Critique: To analyze and critique macro-level higher education policies at both national and international levels, with emphasis on effectiveness, equity, accountability, and alignment with national strategic documents and the Sustainable Development Goals (particularly SDG 4).

4. Comparative Governance Studies: To examine global models of university governance and adapt them to Iran's cultural, political, and structural context, thereby offering localized solutions to strengthen academic autonomy, transparency, and university efficiency.

5. Interdisciplinary Research Support: To support interdisciplinary research at the intersection of educational sciences, political science, management, law, sociology, and economics, with a focus on higher education issues and governance.

6. Evidence-Based Policymaking: To enhance the quality of higher education policymaking by promoting a culture of evidence-based policymaking and disseminating applied and strategic research findings.

7. Indigenous Theory Development: To develop indigenous theories of higher education governance and policy within the Islamic world and Iran, moving beyond the imitation of Western models while taking into account the identity-based, cultural, and civilizational characteristics of Iranian society.

8. National and International Collaboration: To collaborate with national and international institutions active in higher education (e.g., the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology; the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution; UNESCO; the International Association of Universities [IAU]; and the European University Association [EUA]) for knowledge exchange and to strengthen the journal's scholarly standing at regional and global levels.

Thematic Scope (Subject Areas)

The Journal of Governance and Policy Development in Higher Education (JGPDHE) invites submissions within the following thematic areas:

1. University Governance and Decision-Making Structures

• Models of university governance (participatory, bureaucratic, leadership-driven, board-driven)

• The role of academic councils, boards of trustees, and rectors in decision-making

• Academic and university autonomy: challenges and solutions

• Accountability and transparency in university management

• The state-university relationship: balancing oversight and independence

2. Higher Education Policy at National and International Levels

• Analysis of national higher education strategic documents

• Evidence-based policymaking

• Comparative higher education policies across countries

• Alignment of higher education policies with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 4)

• The role of supranational institutions (UNESCO, World Bank, EUA) in shaping higher education policies

3. Structural Reforms and Transformation in Higher Education Systems

• Fundamental transformation: opportunities, challenges, and impact assessment

• Reorganizing university structures

• Mergers, consolidations, or the establishment of new higher education institutions

• Reform of faculty recruitment, promotion, and evaluation systems

• Reduction of program duration and its policy implications

4. Academic Leadership and Strategic Management in Higher Education

• Characteristics of transformational leadership in universities

• Change management and innovation in academic environments

• The role of presidents, deans, and senior administrators in policy implementation

• University organizational culture and its impact on performance

5. Equity, Access, and Diversity in Higher Education

• Educational and gender equity policies in higher education

• Higher education for older adults and lifelong learning (integrating higher education and aging studies)

• Cultural and intellectual diversity in academic environments

6. Economics and Resource Management in Higher Education

• University funding policies (public, private, public-private partnerships)

• Economic efficiency and resource optimization in higher education

• Cost-benefit analysis of higher education policies

• The relationship between higher education and the labor market

7. Globalization, Digitalization, and the Future of Higher Education

• Challenges of globalization and the preservation of cultural identity

• Higher education policies in digital and post-university spaces

• Artificial intelligence, e-learning, and related policy transformations

• International university networking and its effects on governance

8. Case Studies and Comparative Studies

• Analysis of higher education policy successes and failures in Iran

• Comparative studies across Islamic, regional, or global contexts

• Lessons learned from higher education reforms