Knowledge Diplomacy Development Model in the Context of Internationalization of Educational Studies in Iranian Higher Education System

The aim of this study is to provide a model based on the views and experiences of Faculty members on the fields of Knowledge Diplomacy application in educational studies as an interdisciplinary knowledge for communication and scientific exchange in universities to help the Scientific development of Iranian higher education system by using the capacity of interdisciplinary knowledge in the university educational programs. The approach of this research is qualitative and based on the strategy of Systematic Grounded Theory. The research scope included Faculty members in the field of educational studies at the universities of Kurdistan province, and 14 participants were selected through theoretical sampling and they interviewed by in depth and semi-structured interviews. The interview data were coded and modeled through the Maxqda 2020 qualitative data analysis software. Based on the findings, the central phenomenon of Interdisciplinary Knowledge Diplomacy in the internationalization of an Iranian University is based on causal conditions (linguistic issues in international education and research; and weakness of knowledge of educational and curriculum content of Iranian universities); Intervening conditions (decision-making in the academic policy-making system; promoting the development of communication and virtual education; and the structure of scientific-executive power and academic authorities); contexts (science production and research approach; qualitative development, competitiveness and academic prestige; and diversify cultural and social needs); strategies (development of Interdisciplinary diplomacy; Individual and academic science exchanges; and comparative educational studies with other countries) and consequences (achieving academic science authority, reconstruction of Interdisciplinary content knowledge, and familiarity with regional and International relations experiences).