Journal of higher education curriculum studies

Journal of higher education curriculum studies

Exploring the Lived Experiences of Iranian Higher Education Graduates Regarding the Characteristics of Inspiring Professors: A Phenomenological Study

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Rahmat Allah Khosravi 1
sirus mansoori 2
Nazanin Ghasemi 3
1 Department of Educational Sciences, Farhangian University, Tehran, Iran
2 Department of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Humanities, Arak University, Arak, Iran.
3 PhD student in Curriculum Studies, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
10.22034/hecs.2025.499180.1990
Abstract
The present study explored the experiences of Iranian higher education graduates regarding the characteristics of inspiring professors. Employing a qualitative approach and a phenomenological research strategy, this study sought to uncover the lived experiences of individuals who have encountered inspirational educators during their academic journey. The participants consisted of Ph.D. graduates from Iranian universities who are currently serving as faculty members and have attended the classes of professors they considered inspiring. In the first phase, participants were asked to identify professors whom they perceived as inspiring during their studies, leading to the compilation of a list of such professors. In the second phase, in-depth interviews were conducted to gain a deeper understanding of the graduates’ experiences. The inclusion criteria for the interviews included having sustained interaction with an inspiring professor, current faculty membership, and voluntary participation. Data saturation was achieved after interviewing sixteen participants. Thematic analysis was employed to analyze the data. Research validity was ensured through peer and participant review, and reliability was established by double-coding two interviews by external researchers. Ultimately, the findings were organized into 125 basic themes, 13 organizing themes, and 4 global themes: fostering positive psychological characteristics in education, professional ethics, professional teaching, and professorial agency. The results revealed that professors’ inspirational influence is a human and transformative phenomenon that reshapes the multidimensional development of students. Revisiting professors’ professional identity, redesigning faculty development programs, and revising recruitment and promotion criteria can facilitate the realization of this goal
Keywords
Professors&‌‌rsquo
inspiration
Characteristics of Inspiring Professors
Influential Professors
Professorial Agency
Transformation in Students&‌‌rsquo
Lives
Subjects
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Journal of higher education curriculum studies
Volume 15, Issue 30
March 2025
Pages 143-167