Designing a Model for the Employment of Adjunct Professors at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad

Abstract

The landscape of higher education has undergone significant changes in recent years. Meanwhile, knowledge is recognized as the most vital resource in contemporary societies. Changes are happening rapidly, and any delayed response to socio-environmental issues further exacerbates the gap between universities and the demands of society. One of the most significant transformations is the emergence of adjunct professors, which has brought about a considerable shift in the academic workforce. The use of such faculty members, based on observations and reports, has been increasingly expanding in universities, creating new challenges in the management of university education. This has become a critical research necessity. Therefore, this study aims to propose a model for the employment of adjunct professors at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. This research is fundamental in terms of its objective, interpretive in its philosophical approach, qualitative in methodology, and data-driven in its strategy, based on the Strauss and Corbin approach. The study population consisted of current and former university presidents, current and former academic vice-presidents of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, academic vice-deans of faculties, recruitment committee members, and academic department managers. The sample members were selected using a snowball sampling method, following the theoretical saturation rule. Additionally, the data collection tool for this study was interviews. The results of the data analysis, assisted by MAXQDA qualitative analysis software, were processed using open, axial, and selective coding procedures. The findings of the study include a model that identifies the factors and components related to causal conditions, the core phenomenon, contextual conditions, intervening conditions, strategies, and outcomes. Overall, the research provides a model for the employment of adjunct professors, offering the necessary framework for understanding and recognizing this topic, as well as for developing structured programs and mechanisms.