Prioritizing the Dimensions of Internationalization of Education: Emphasis on the Role of Managers in Higher Education Policymaking by Presenting a Model

Objective: The primary objective of this investigation was to delineate the hierarchical importance of the dimensions constituting the internationalization of education, particularly accentuating the influence of managerial personnel in the formulation of higher education policy. Methods: This study is categorized as applied research and employs a mixed-methods approach. The qualitative segment of the study targeted professors affiliated with Islamic Azad Universities in Bushehr Province, specifically those possessing over a decade of teaching experience and holding academic ranks of associate or assistant professor; conversely, the quantitative segment comprised a sample of 120 professors. Within the qualitative dimension, a sample of 12 individuals was exactly chosen utilizing the snowball sampling technique, adhering to the principle of saturation, while the quantitative portion involved the selection of 92 participants through a stratified random sampling method informed by university units, following the Cochran formula. The instrument for data collection in the qualitative segment was a semi-structured exploratory interview, whereas the quantitative segment utilized a structured questionnaire. Results: The findings from the qualitative analysis indicated that political components, managerial and organizational components, socio-cultural dimensions, educational and pedagogical factors, structural elements, informational components, and administrative and supportive aspects were ranked according to their influence on the internationalization of education, with a pronounced emphasis on the pivotal role of managers in higher education policy formulation. Conclusions: The results may facilitate the endeavors of higher education administrators in the formulation of strategic planning and policy development pertaining to the internationalization of educational practices within the realm of higher education.