Identifying the Faculty Members’ Training Needs to Develop Short Courses In-service Training: A Case Study from Mahshahr Islamic Azad University, Iran

Abstract

The present study aimed at finding out the faculty members’ training needs to develop short courses in-service training. To this end, a questionnaire was given to 180 faculty members from Mahshahr Islamic Azad University. Type of applied research and its methods for data collection along with a survey questionnaire which included 30 open response questions were utilized. The validity of the type of content was approved with reliability equivalent to 946 / 0 respectively. For data analysis descriptive statistics (frequency, frequency, mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics including t-and variance analysis to answer research questions were used. Research findings showed that the faculty members of Mahshahr Islamic Azad University need training in knowledge (English language training specialist, familiar with the directive of research, training circulars familiar with, familiar with active teaching methods), attitude (interested in participating in TOEFL training courses, participating in national and international conferences, visiting  the higher education systems in different countries, and  tending to use methods to increase motivation in students) and skill (skills in using electronic journals, skills in writing proposals, ability to use electronic library, the application of scientific methods Essay Writing).

Key words: Needs; Educational needs; Knowledge needs; Attitude required; Skill required