Iranian Journal of Engineering Education

Rethinking the Duration of the Engineering Bachelor’s Degree in Iran: Solutions, Considerations, and Policy Requirements

Articles in Press

Document Type : Scientific - Research

Authors

Farhad Ebrahimabadi 1
Vahid Taghikhani 2
Jafar Towfighi 3

1 Department of Educational and Curriculum Innovation- Institute for Research and Planning in Higher Education

2 Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Sharif University of Technology- Tehran- Iran

3 Faculty of Chemical Engineering-Tarbiat Modares University - Tehran- Iran

10.22047/ijee.2025.563615.2228
Abstract
The reconsideration of the duration of engineering bachelor’s degree has recently been placed on the agenda of Ministry of Science, Research and Technology in Iran. This applied study aimed to identify relevant solutions, considerations, and requirements by adopting a qualitative approach. Data were collected through document analysis and expert panels, and analyzed using thematic analysis. Participants included higher education experts selected through a snowball sampling method. The findings showed that in developed countries, a structured diversity of academic degrees with distinct functions increases the alignment of higher education and labor market needs. Results further indicated that offering three types of technology and engineering bachelor’s degrees- namely, the 4‑year academic bachelor degree in universities, and 3‑year applied and vocational bachelor degrees in applied universities- would allow curricula to be more effectively tailored to professional and academic pathways. Diversification at the associate, master’s, and doctoral degrees also emerged as feasible options. However, the development of the "Iranian Higher Education Qualifications Framework" is a strategic necessity to systematize this diversity. The study concludes that the international standard for an academic Bachelor of Engineering degree is four years (120 to 125 credits) and that reducing it would be inconsistent with global standards and frameworks.

Keywords

Bachelor Degree
Diversity of Academic Qualifications
Engineering
Alignment of Higher Education with Labor Market
National Qualifications Framework

Subjects

Iranian Journal of Engineering Education

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 30 December 2025

  • Receive Date 02 December 2025
  • Revise Date 30 December 2025
  • Accept Date 30 December 2025
  • First Publish Date 30 December 2025
  • Publish Date 30 December 2025

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