The challenges of post-COVID age in Iranian higher education

ABSTRACT

The conditions caused by the spread of COVID-19 have compelled higher education to make new efforts in the education system to prepare new routes and new openings in the post-COVID era to avoid any disruption and reduce costs. In this regard, this study has considered the challenges of Iranian higher education institutions in the post-COVID era. The research approach was qualitative and phenomenological, and then, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 samples from two groups of chief executive officers and faculty members. The thematic content analysis method was used to analyze the qualitative data. The results showed four possible challenges in Iranian higher education institutions, which indicate the fact that it is necessary for universities' management in the post-COVID era to be prepared to advance its goals, and to prioritize the review of education, research, and executive methods, based on the circumstances. In the four challenges, this study improves current knowledge regarding university management in the post-COVID era.

KEYWORDS:

• Iranian higher education
• post-COVID
• challenges
• education

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Esmaeil Jafari

Esmaeil Jafari is an assistant professor at the Faculty of Education and Psychology of Shahid Beheshti University. He holds a doctoral degree in curriculum planning from Shahid Beheshti University, and he focuses his research in educational technologies and higher education. Virtual education, virtual curriculum, MOOCs and educational leadership and policy are his favourite research fields. He is currently the manager of human resource and support at Shahid Beheshti University.