Elaboration of indices of the Third Generation of the universities of medical sciences: Status quo assessment of Iran University of Medical Sciences

BACKGROUND: Universities are changing from government organizations into third generation. The aims of this study were to identify the dimensions and components of a third-generation university and assessment of the status quo of Iran University of Medical Sciences. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was mixed method. In the qualitative phase, participants consisted of experts of academic management and scholars in third-generation universities. The dimensions and components of a third-generation university were identified by content analysis. A questionnaire was prepared according to dimensions and components with Cronbach's alpha of 0.86. In the quantitative phase, participants consisted of managers and experts of Iran University of Medical Sciences; they completed the questionnaire to assess the status quo of Iran University. Data analysis was performed by Colaizzi's and SPSS software. RESULTS: Third generation of universities of medical sciences has 2 dimensions and 17 components. Software dimension consists of course content, attitude, vision and mission of the university, organizational culture, instructors, students, employees, academic management and leadership, international approach, and social accountability components. Hardware dimension consists of organizational structure, academic infrastructures, knowledge commercialization, and communication with the government, education system, university environment, and university independence components. Status in Iran University of Medical Sciences in hardware dimension was 2.53, and in software dimension, it was 2.96. CONCLUSION: Universities are required to respond to the changes in community. Therefore, universities need to change their structures, goals, approaches, perspectives, and intra-organizational and extra-organizational communications to be able to move toward a university which is entrepreneur, skill teaching, wealth generating.