Identification of the barriers and factors affecting the quality of higher education in Allameh Tabataba’i university from the viewpoints of faculty members

ABSTRACT The aim of this study is to identify and analyse the obstacles and influential factors of the quality of higher education in Allameh Tabataba’i University based on the viewpoints of academic staff. The study was conducted using a phenomenological approach. The research population included 34 academic staff of the university, who were selected using a purposive sampling method. Data collection was performed through semi-structured interviews. The perceptions and experiences of academic staff were analysed using Heidegger’s hermeneutic phenomenological approach. Based on the obtained data, the factors affecting higher education quality at micro and macro levels were identified and categorised with sub-themes. The existing obstacles to the promotion pathway of the higher education quality in Iran were also identified and categorised at the micro and macro levels. The study showed that allocation of increased budget to universities and increasing their autonomy in decision making can improve the quality of higher education.