Copy igh © 2025 Zanjan Uni e si y o Medical Sciences. Published by Zanjan Uni e si y o Medical Sciences.
This wo k is licensed unde a C ea i e Commons A ibu ion-NonComme cial 4.0 In e na ional license (h ps://c ea i ecommons.o g/licenses/by-
nc/4.0/). Noncomme cial uses o he wo k a e pe mi ed, p o ided he o iginal wo k is p ope ly ci ed.
A model o e hical uni e si ies in medical sciences uni e si ies:
A quali a i e s udy
Kimia Eliasi 1 , Rasoul Da oodi 1* , Manjiehe Zaka yaei 2
1Depa men o Educa ional Adminis a ion, Zanjan B anch, Islamic Azad Uni e si y, Zanjan, I an.
2Depa men o Educa ional Sciences, Zanjan B anch, Islamic Azad Uni e si y, Zanjan, I an.
A icle in o Abs ac
In oduc ion
Highe educa ion se es as a hub o science, ideas, and
inno a ion. I has essen ial du ies, like ad ancing science
and educa ion and aining he specialized wo k o ce ha
socie y needs [1]. Mo eo e , he socie al con ex and
cul u al de elopmen s ha e signi ican ly changed he
ole o uni e si ies, which a e key o he highe educa ion
sys em [2]. Recen ly, a no able shi has occu ed in he
in ellec ual ole o uni e si ies ega ding e hical
p inciples. Changes in socie al beha io and needs ha e
p omp ed uni e si ies o adop a dynamic app oach,
ocusing on e hics [3]. In oday's wo ld, especially in
o ganiza ions, p o essional and o ganiza ional e hics a e
c ucial and play a i al ole [4]. Addi ionally, he swi
ad ancemen o science and new echnologies, combined
wi h he decline o adi ional e hical s anda ds in
mode n socie ies, highligh s he impo ance o
de elopmen o p o essional e hics in uni e si ies [5].
E hics wi hin academia is i al o es ablishing a sys em
A icle his o y:
Recei ed 3 Aug. 2024
Accep ed 5 Feb. 2025
Published 14 Ap . 2025
Eliasi e al. J Med Edu De . 2025; 18(1): 10-22 Jou nal o Medical Educa ion De elopmen
Backg ound & Objec i e: E hics in academia is key o c ea ing a quali y assu ance sys em in
highe educa ion. I e lec s p og ess in socie y. In simple e ms, building an e hics- ocused
uni e si y equi es a clea app oach o e hics. This s udy aims o p esen a model o an e hics-
o ien ed uni e si y wi hin medical schools.
Ma e ials & Me hods: This s udy used a g ounded heo y design and he da a heo y app oach
om S auss and Co bin (1997). I in ol ed 26 p o esso s and expe s om medical schools
and uni e si ies in he 6 h mac o- egion. Semi-s uc u ed in e iews we e conduc ed o ga he
da a un il heo e ical sa u a ion was eached. The analysis was done using open, axial, and
selec i e coding me hods.
Resul s: The e hics-o ien ed uni e si y model in medical schools was s uc u ed wi h 168
p ima y codes, 34 subca ego ies, and six main ca ego ies. The indings iden i ied causal
condi ions such as social and cul u al oles, heal hy compe i ion, e hical s anda diza ion, and
alue-d i en ans o ma ion; con ex ual condi ions including undamen al alues, e hical
en i onmen , cul u e, and ision; and in e ening condi ions like us , spi i uali y,
esponsibili y, commi men , leade ship, and e hical in elligence. The main ca ego ies
encompass educa ion, esea ch, knowledge, in e ac ion, aining, and e hical awa eness.
S a egies in ol ed ins i u ionalizing e hics, de elopmen o p o essional e hics, e hical
planning, de eloping e hical cha e s, ocusing on e hical communi y, e hical ole modeling,
de elopmen o e hical capaci ies, and ensu ing e hical sus ainabili y. The ou comes highligh ed
o ganiza ional heal h, mo al g ow h in socie y, en i onmen al e hics, indi idual and
o ganiza ional de elopmen , and social capi al.
Conclusion: Based on he ac o s iden i ied in he e hics-o ien ed uni e si y model,
ecommenda ions we e made o i s de elopmen and implemen a ion.
Keywo ds: e hics, e hics-o ien ed o ganiza ion, e hics-o ien ed uni e si y, medical sciences
uni e si ies
*Co esponding au ho :
Rasoul Da oodi, Depa men o
Educa ional Adminis a ion, Zanjan
B anch, Islamic Azad Uni e si y,
Zanjan, I an.
Email: Rasoul.da [email protected]
O iginal A icle
How o ci e his a icle:
Eliasi K, Da oodi R, Zaka yaei M. A
model o e hical uni e si ies in
medical sciences uni e si ies: A
quali a i e s udy. J Med Edu De .
2025; 18(1): 10-22.
[ DOI: 10.61186/edcj.18.1.10 ] [ Downloaded om edujou nal.zums.ac.i on 2025-10-03 ]
1 / 13
Eliasi e al
.
: A Model o E hical Uni e si ies
Jou nal o Medical Educa ion De elopmen ¦ Volume 18 ¦ Issue 1¦ 2025 11
ha ensu es highe educa ion quali y and os e s a
h i ing socie y [6]. The e o e, p omo ing and
de eloping uni e si y e hics is essen ial o socie al
g ow h and educing he cos s associa ed wi h une hical
beha io . Uni e si ies aiming o de ine, o mula e, and
implemen e hical alues in hei daily ac i i ies a e
known as ‘e hical uni e si ies’ [3]. An e hical uni e si y
is one ha , like an e hical o ganiza ion, ollows e hical
p inciples and s anda ds as a amewo k o guide he
beha io o i s s a and acul y [2].
In such ins i u ions, p io i izing e hics b ings many
unc ional and e hical bene i s o employees and
manage s. This is especially impo an oday, as
o ganiza ions ace a ious alues, and paying a en ion
o e hics can lead o signi ican cos s [7].
In an e hical uni e si y, sha ed unde s anding and
ongoing pe cep ions o unc ions, ac ions, and
p ocedu es a e es ablished, all wi h e hical implica ions.
This en i onmen c ea es ways o desc ibe, explain, and
p edic beha io s based on e hical p inciples, aligning
wi h o ganiza ional policies and me hods ha p omo e
posi i e e hical ou comes [3].
De eloping an e hical uni e si y can se e se e al
impo an unc ions, such as e hical modeling, mo al
men al image y, and os e ing an e hical clima e. One
key aspec is he uni e si ies' e hical modeling ole o
hei s uden s. P o esso s, s a , and adminis a o s can
e ec i ely ins i u ionalize e hics by in e ac ing wi h
s uden s and se ing as ole models. Ano he signi ican
pa o e hical modeling in ol es p o iding indi idual
and social counseling and guidance ecognized by
uni e si y pe sonnel in he communi y [8].
Men al image y, o cogni i e simula ion, is he p ocess
whe e indi iduals c ea e a men al ep esen a ion o an
ac ion using a ious senses. E hical uni e si ies can use
angible and isible ools in o ganiza ional and social
con ex s o c ea e a posi i e men al image y o e hics [9].
Ul ima ely, e hical uni e si ies p omo e an e hical
clima e in hei en i onmen s, educing he likelihood o
issues like poli ical bias and con lic s [10]. While an
e hics-based uni e si y is i al o p omo ing e hical
alues in socie y, e iews o exis ing esea ch show ha
only a ew dimensions o his idea ha e been empi ically
s udied. Mo e comp ehensi e esea ch needs o be
conduc ed o p o ide a sys ema ic amewo k o e hics-
based uni e si ies in a eas like cul u e, s a egy, human
esou ce managemen , and ope a ional p ocesses [11].
S udy om Eh ich e al. [12] highligh ha a en ion o
e hics should be iewed as an in e connec ed chain
wi hin educa ional sys ems, needing examina ion a all
le els and in a ious aspec s. Addi ionally, Gu gu and
Tonis [3] poin ed ou ha ins i u ionalizing uni e si y
e hics is a new eali y o which manage s mus be
adequa ely p epa ed. O e ecen decades, he
signi icance o ocusing on he e hical dimension o
uni e si y li e has become inc easingly ecognized
h ough public awa eness. Managing e hics in he
academic se ing in ol es coo dina ing all elemen s
ela ed o he e hical li e o he uni e si y.
C ea ing an e hics-based uni e si y is essen ial, as ou
coun y's ounda ional documen s highligh . The ision
o he highe educa ion sys em by 1404 s a es ha he
Islamic Republic aims o lead in p oducing ci iliza ional
knowledge and in p omo ing and de eloping global
Islamic cul u e. I en isions pionee ing uni e si ies and
esea ch ins i u es ha expand he on ie o p ac ical
and e ec i e knowledge and sciences, oo ed in a ib an
mindse ha seeks o a ain cul u al and p ac ical
au ho i y in he egion and he Islamic wo ld.
These ins i u ions will ha e lea ned, jus ice-lo ing, and
ee- hinking p o esso s ained in Islamic and
e olu iona y alues. These educa o s will be
esponsible in poli ical, social, and economic a eas,
capable o aining commi ed specialis s and excellen
scien is s [13]. Wi h his pe spec i e, i 's clea ha o he
coun y's g ow h and he ealiza ion o highe educa ion
goals, simply adop ing Wes e n o o eign models won'
add ess I anian socie y's cul u al and alue needs.
Ins ead, de eloping a model ailo ed o I an's social,
cul u al, scien i ic, economic, and poli ical condi ions is
c ucial, aligning wi h i s Islamic alues o c ea ing an
e hics-based uni e si y. Gi en oday's complex
challenges, especially in medical uni e si ies, adi ional
managemen and adminis a i e me hods a e no longe
e ec i e. Thus, by unde s anding he undamen al
changes needed in he p inciples and alues guiding
medical uni e si ies, leade ship should ocus on
os e ing a long- e m de elopmen p ocess and
es ablishing an e hics-cen e ed app oach by g ounding
p ac ices in cul u al alues.
To achie e his, a comp ehensi e model should be
designed, add essing a ious uni e si y aspec s, d awing
om indigenous alues and s a egies o he coun y.
This need has mo i a ed he esea che o conduc he
cu en s udy aimed a p esen ing an e hics-o ien ed
uni e si y model speci ically o medical uni e si ies.
The s udy will ocus on ‘iden i ying and de eloping an
e hics-o ien ed uni e si y model in medical uni e si ies.’
This model mus encompass p inciples, c i e ia, and
ope a ional me hods o enhance p o essional and human
[ DOI: 10.61186/edcj.18.1.10 ] [ Downloaded om edujou nal.zums.ac.i on 2025-10-03 ]
2 / 13
Eliasi e al
.
: A Model o E hical Uni e si ies
12 Jou nal o Medical Educa ion De elopmen ¦ Volume 18 ¦ Issue 1 ¦ 2025
e hics in educa ional and medical se ings. Thus, he co e
ques ion o his s udy is: How can we c ea e an e ec i e
and p ac ical model o medical uni e si ies ha
enhances e hics in educa ion, esea ch, and medical
se ices? Ul ima ely, he goal is o p esen an e hics-
o ien ed uni e si y model in medical uni e si ies ha
aligns wi h I an's cul u al and social con ex .
Ma e ials & Me hods
Design and se ing(s)
In his s udy, he S auss and Co bin [14] g ounded
heo y app oach was used o de elop a model o an
e hical uni e si y in I anian medical uni e si ies. This
me hod helps esea che s ga he heo ies om he eal
expe iences o indi iduals in academic se ings who
emphasize e hics by collec ing and analyzing da a. The
s udy ook place a he medical science acul ies o
Khomein, Sa eh, Zanjan, Qom, Albo z, Qaz in, and
A ak. These uni e si ies a e pa o he 6 h mac o- egion.
Da a was collec ed om expe s and specialis s in e hics
a hese ins i u ions.
Pa icipan s and sampling
The pa icipan s included se e al expe s and specialis s
in e hics om he medical science acul ies and
uni e si ies in he 6 h mac o- egion. This included he
uni e si ies o Zanjan, Qom, Albo z, Qaz in, and A ak,
as well as he acul ies o Khomein and Sa eh. These
membe s s udied and analyzed many ace s o scien i ic
e hics and e hical beha io in uni e si ies, and hey
possessed bo h heo e ical knowledge and eal-wo ld
expe ience in academic e hics.
Pa icipan s needed su icien heo e ical knowledge and
expe ience in e hics o ake pa in he s udy. Be o e
conduc ing in e iews, e bal consen was ob ained o
ensu e ha he con en would be ich and use ul and o
allow o addi ional o longe in e iews i necessa y.
This app oach helps deepen he unde s anding o he
esea ch opic since he in e iews need o p o ide
meaning ul con en and esponsible esponses.
Pu posi e sampling was used o selec pa icipan s,
iden i ying expe s and specialis s who could p o ide
aluable in o ma ion on he esea ch opic. Theo e ical
sampling was also employed o each he heo e ical
sa u a ion o he esea ch concep s. Theo e ical
sa u a ion occu s when analyzing new da a, which no
longe e eals new concep s o issues [15].
Da a we e collec ed om 26 pa icipan s o be e
unde s and e hical p inciples and alues in medical
uni e si ies. The in e iewees we e so ed in o di e en
ca ego ies based on hei academic ank. Th ee
pa icipan s held he ank o p o esso , including expe s
in in e nal medicine, pa asi ology, and ana omical
sciences who played a key ole in uni e si ies and
educa ional cen e s. Nine pa icipan s we e assis an
p o esso s wi h expe ise in den is y, medical educa ion,
heal h economics, psychology, human esou ces, and
pha macy.
Two associa e p o esso s specialized in den is y and
hospi al s udies. Finally, h ee pa icipan s we e doc o al
s uden s. The emaining pa icipan s we e employees
wi h heo e ical knowledge and p ac ical expe ience in
e hics. This di e si y in academic ank highligh s he
ange o specializa ions and expe iences among he
in e iewees, enhancing he ichness o he collec ed da a
(Table 1).
Da a collec ion me hods
Da a we e collec ed be ween Sep embe 2023 and
Augus 2024. A o al o 33 in e iews we e conduc ed,
wi h 28 being in pe son and i e by elephone (one was
an in e iew). To gain deepe insigh s, some pa icipan s
we e in e iewed mul iple imes. Speci ically, o he 28
in-pe son in e iews, 3 pa icipan s had wo in e iews
each, while 16 had only one. Addi ionally, 2 pa icipan s
we e in e iewed h ee imes.
The in e iews we e conduc ed by one o he esea che s
who had conduc ed in-dep h s udies in e hics and had
gained su icien heo e ical knowledge be o e he
esea ch.
The ace- o- ace in e iews occu ed a a ious
loca ions, including Zanjan Uni e si y o Medical
Sciences, he Minis y o Heal h and Medical Educa ion,
he den al o ice, he ci y heal h ne wo k, Aya ollah
Mousa i Hospi al o Zanjan, and Qaz in Uni e si y o
Medical Sciences.
The in e iew ime ame a ied: 3 in e iews we e long
(o e 100 minu es), including 150 minu es and ano he
100 minu es. The e we e also nine in e iews o a e age
du a ion (40 o 60 minu es). Finally, 14 in e iews had
sho du a ions (less han 40 minu es), including ace- o-
ace and phone con e sa ions las ing be ween 17 and 35
minu es. The a e age leng h o he in e iews was abou
50 minu es.
Tools/Ins umen s
The esea ch was conduc ed using semi-s uc u ed
in e iews. A he beginning o each session, he
esea che in oduced himsel and explained he s udy's
objec i es. Nex , in e iewees we e asked o ead and
[ DOI: 10.61186/edcj.18.1.10 ] [ Downloaded om edujou nal.zums.ac.i on 2025-10-03 ]
3 / 13
Eliasi e al
.
: A Model o E hical Uni e si ies
Jou nal o Medical Educa ion De elopmen ¦ Volume 18 ¦ Issue 1¦ 2025 13
sign a consen o m. Each in e iew s a ed wi h he
open-ended ques ion: ‘Please in oduce you sel and
explain you cu en ole in he uni e si y o heal h
o ganiza ion.’
P obing ques ions ollowed o ga he mo e in o ma ion.
Fo ins ance, he esea che asked, “Wha is you iew
on he ole o e hics in he academic en i onmen ,
especially in medical uni e si ies?”
The in e iewee esponded, “E hics in he academic
en i onmen is c ucial, as we educa e s uden s and need
o be good ole models o hem. This builds us and
mu ual espec .”
The esea che hen asked abou he elemen s ha could
help c ea e an e hical en i onmen : “In you opinion,
wha ac o s in a uni e si y can os e an e hical
en i onmen ?” The in e iewee eplied, “Key elemen s
include anspa ency in decision-making, ongoing
educa ion on p o essional e hics, and encou aging open
dialogue be ween acul y and s uden s.”
Nex , ques ions add essed pe sonal expe iences and
e hical challenges. The esea che inqui ed, “Ha e you
aced any e hical challenges in you wo kplace ha you
can sha e?” The in e iewee answe ed, “Yes, I once
encoun e ed a si ua ion whe e a colleague p o ided
inco ec in o ma ion o s uden s. I decided o alk o him
and encou age him o sha e co ec in o ma ion.”
The esea che also asked, “How can a cul u e o e hics
be ein o ced among acul y and s uden s?” The
in e iewee sugges ed, “Holding wo kshops on
p o essional e hics and c ea ing a space o discussion
and exchanging ideas can be e y e ec i e.”
In he inal pa o he in e iew, he esea che posed
closing ques ions. She asked, “Do you ha e any
sugges ions o enhancing he e hical clima e in medical
uni e si ies?” The in e iewee esponded, “Yes, we
should es ablish speci ic p og ams o moni o e hical
beha io and c ea e a secu e epo ing sys em o e hical
iola ions.”
The esea che also asked, “Wha esou ces o ools
could help you and you colleagues imp o e e hical
beha io ?” The in e iewee no ed, “Reliable educa ional
esou ces and expe ad ice can help us be e handle
e hical challenges.” Finally, he esea che encou aged
in e iewees o men ion any o e looked poin s o issues.
One in e iewee added, “A en ion o he men al heal h
o acul y and s uden s should be a p io i y since
psychological s ess can impac e hical decision-
making.”
Da a analysis
The Co bin and S auss app oach [14] was used o da a
analysis. This p ocess in ol ed echniques like
ques ioning, con inuous compa ison, and a pa adigma ic
model o ex ac concep s, con ex , and p ocesses om
he da a. Theo y de eloped h ough w i ing no es du ing
his p ocess. These no es we e e iewed o ind
in e ela ionships be ween concep s and ca ego ies [14].
S o ylines and a amewo k we e also c ea ed o gene a e
heo y and iden i y main ca ego ies. The i s au ho (K.
A) ca ied ou da a collec ion and analysis unde he
supe ision o he co esponding au ho (R. D) and he
hi d au ho (M. Z).
The esea ch eam supe ised he da a collec ion p ocess
in pe iodic mee ings. The esea ch eam also did Da a
analysis and in e p e a ion, wi h coding, classi ica ion,
and da a e ie al pe o med manually using Mic oso
Wo d. Lincoln and Guba's c i e ia we e applied o ensu e
he esea ch's alidi y, eliabili y, con i mabili y, and
ans e abili y [16]. Fo alidi y, semi-s uc u ed
in e iew ques ions we e e iewed mul iple imes o
ensu e cla i y.
A summa y o he esea ch design was also sen o
in e iewees o help hem p epa e o he in e iew. The
esea che ca e ully e iewed he codes om he
in e iews se e al imes o ensu e accu acy and
p ecision. Fo ans e abili y, heo e ical sampling
ocused on imely and accu a e analysis. High-quali y
in o ma ion abou he phenomenon was collec ed, and
necessa y heo e ical concep s we e ex ac ed om he
in e iew da a.
The esea che 's in e p e a ions we e assessed by o he s,
and he in e iews we e examined o con i mabili y.
Accu a e and imely in e iews we e conduc ed, and he
esul s we e connec ed o heo e ical unde pinnings and
exis ing li e a u e.
E e y in e iew ook place in a welcoming se ing, wi h
p o essionalism and anonymi y. Las ly, he o ganiza ion
and applica ion o s uc u ed echniques o da a
collec ion, w i ing, and in e p e a ion gua an eed he
eliabili y o he s udy. To judge he calibe o he
in e iews, a s ee ing commi ee comp ising ad iso s
and supe iso s was also o med
.
[ DOI: 10.61186/edcj.18.1.10 ] [ Downloaded om edujou nal.zums.ac.i on 2025-10-03 ]
4 / 13
Eliasi e al
.
: A Model o E hical Uni e si ies
14 Jou nal o Medical Educa ion De elopmen ¦ Volume 18 ¦ Issue 1 ¦ 2025
Table 1. Cha ac e is ics o he pa icipan s
No
Gende
In e iew
du a ion
(Minu es)
Age
Facul y o
uni e si y
In e iew
loca ion
Special y
Educa ion
le el
Academic
ank
Posi ion
Wo k
expe ience
Numbe
o
in e iew
s
1
Female
150
36
Zanjan
Uni e si y
headqua e s
Occupa ional
enginee ing
Mas e 's
-
Senio
expe
10 yea s
2
2
Female
150
49
Zanjan
Uni e si y
headqua e s
Occupa ional
enginee ing
Mas e 's
-
Head o
depa men
20 yea s
2
3
Male
30
50
Zanjan
Hospi al
Anes hesia
Gene al
physician
S uden
Manage
28 yea s
1
4
Male
30
55
Zanjan
Heal h
ne wo k
headqua e s
Medicine
Gene al
physician
-
Dean
25 yea s
1
5
Male
30
45
Zanjan
Heal h
ne wo k
headqua e s
Medicine
Gene al
physician
-
Dean
15 yea s
1
6
Male
30
53
Zanjan
Uni e si y
headqua e s
Budge
PhD in
public
adminis a io
n
-
Manage
23 yea s
1
7
Male
20
49
Sa eh,
Pa asi ology
PhD in
pa asi ology
P o esso
Head o
labo a o y
depa men
G oup
leade
26 yea s
1 (Phone
in e iew)
8
Male
20
45
Sa eh
Minis y o
heal h
Heal h sec o
PhD in
medical
educa ion
Assis an
p o esso
Dean
19 yea s
1
9
Male
20
49
Zanjan
Uni e si y
headqua e s
O ganiza ion
al s uc u e
PhD in
public
adminis a io
n
-
Manage
24 yea s
3
10
Male
42
42
Khomein
Qaz in
uni e si y o
medical
sciences
Human
esou ces
PhD in
human
esou ce
managemen
Assis an
p o esso
Manage
20 yea s
1
11
Male
45
47
Khomein
Qaz in
uni e si y o
medical
sciences
Diseases
PhD in
psychology
Assis an
p o esso
G oup
leade
25 yea s
1
12
Male
40
41
Zanjan
Clinic
Res o a i e
den is y
PhD in
es o a i e
den is y
Assis an
p o esso
Facul y
membe
18 yea s
2
13
Female
40
40
Zanjan
Clinic
Radiology
O al and
maxillo acial
adiology
specialis
Assis an
p o esso
Facul y
membe
18 yea s
1
14
Female
45
46
Albo z
Minis y o
heal h
Medicine
Gene al
physician
-
G oup
leade
14 yea s
1
15
Female
45
46
Albo z
Minis y o
heal h
Medicine
Gene al
physician
-
Dean
12 yea s
1
16
Male
35
41
A ak
Zanjan
Hospi al
managemen
PhD in heal h
se ices
managemen
Associa e
p o esso
Dean
20 yea s
1 (Phone
in e iew)
17
Male
17
45
Qom
Zanjan
In e nal
diseases
PhD in
in e nal
diseases
P o esso
Dean
9 yea s
1 (Phone
in e iew)
18
Male
60
40
Qom
Qaz in
uni e si y o
medical
sciences
Budge
PhD in
economic
sciences
-
Manage
17 yea s
1
19
Male
35
41
Qom
Qaz in
uni e si y o
medical
sciences
O ganiza ion
al beha io
PhD in
human
esou ces
managemen
S uden
Manage
18 yea s
1
20
Female
35
56
Qom
Qaz in
uni e si y o
medical
sciences
Ana omy
PhD in
ana omy
P o esso
Dean
20 yea s
1
[ DOI: 10.61186/edcj.18.1.10 ] [ Downloaded om edujou nal.zums.ac.i on 2025-10-03 ]
5 / 13

Eliasi e al
.
: A Model o E hical Uni e si ies
Jou nal o Medical Educa ion De elopmen ¦ Volume 18 ¦ Issue 1¦ 2025 15
21
Male
100
58
Zanjan
Uni e si y
headqua e s
Nu sing
PhD s uden
in heal h
se ices
managemen
S uden
Manage
25 yea s
3
22
Male
20
55
Minis y o
heal h
Zanjan
Den is y
PhD in
den is y
Associa e
p o esso
Dean
29 yea s
1 (Phone
in e iew)
23
Male
60
52
Qaz in
Qaz in
uni e si y o
medical
sciences
Economics
PhD in heal h
economics
Assis an
p o esso
Manage
27 yea s
1
24
Female
25
41
Albo z
Zanjan
Pha macy
Pha macis
Assis an
p o esso
G oup
leade
10 yea s
1 (Phone
in e iew)
25
Female
25
43
Albo z
Minis y o
heal h
Pha macy
Pha macis
Assis an
p o esso
G oup
leade
8 yea s
1
26
Male
45
58
Zanjan
In e na ional
a ai s,
uni e si y
Pha macy
Pha macis
Assis an
p o esso
Manage
25 yea s
1
Resul s
In he i s s age o open coding, 168 concep s we e
iden i ied. Then, he da a om he second s age we e
so ed in o 34 i s le el sub-ca ego ies. Nex , in he axial
coding s age, 6 second le el sub-ca ego ies we e
ecognized. Finally, in selec i e coding, hese 6 main
ca ego ies we e aised o highe le els o abs ac ion and
g ouped based on con ex ual, in e ening condi ions,
in e ac ions/s a egies, and ou comes cha ac e is ics. The
analysis p ocess and shown in Table 2. The analysis
p ocess e ealed ha he e a e complex in e ac ions
in ol ed in c ea ing a cul u e and e hical clima e in
uni e si ies. These in e ac ions a e desc ibed below.
Table 2. Open codes, sub-ca ego ies and ca ego ies o he e hical uni e si y model in medical sciences uni e si ies
Open codes
Ca ego ies
Sub-ca ego ies
Social ole o he uni e si y
Role o he uni e si y in social and cul u al
de elopmen wi h emphasis on e hical p inciples
Causal condi ions
Cul u al ole o he uni e si y
Ad an age o heal hy compe i ion
E hical s anda diza ion
Value-d i en ans o ma ion
Fundamen al alues
De elopmen o cul u e and e hical en i onmen
Con ex ual condi ions
E hical cul u e
E hical en i onmen
E hical ision
E hical esponsibili y
S eng hening e hical p inciples and esponsible
leade ship
In e ening condi ions
T us ing en i onmen
E hical commi men
E hical leade ship
Spi i uali y
E hical in elligence
E hical educa ion
De elopmen o e hics-based educa ion and esea ch
Pi o al phenomenon
E hical esea ch
E hical knowledge
E hical in e ac ion
E hical aining
E hical insigh
E hical planning
Ins i u ionaliza ion and de elopmen o e hics in he
uni e si y
In e ac ions/S a egies
Ins i u ionalizing e hics
De elopmen o p o essional e hics
De eloping an e hical cha e
Communi y-cen e ed e hics
E hical ole modeling
De elopmen o e hical capaci ies
Ensu ing e hical sus ainabili y
O ganiza ional heal h
De elopmen o heal h and e hical g ow h in he
o ganiza ion and socie y
Ou comes
Mo al g ow h in socie y
En i onmen al e hics
Indi idual and o ganiza ional lou ishing
Social capi al
[ DOI: 10.61186/edcj.18.1.10 ] [ Downloaded om edujou nal.zums.ac.i on 2025-10-03 ]
6 / 13
Eliasi e al
.
: A Model o E hical Uni e si ies
16 Jou nal o Medical Educa ion De elopmen ¦ Volume 18 ¦ Issue 1 ¦ 2025
Causal condi ions o ole o he uni e si y in social and
cul u al de elopmen wi h emphasis on e hical
p inciples
Causal condi ions in his s udy e e o ac o s ha
di ec ly impac he de elopmen and implemen a ion o
he e hical uni e si y model. The ole o he uni e si y in
social and cul u al de elopmen wi h emphasis on e hical
p inciples, is seen as a key ac o in shaping social
beha io s and alues. In e iewee 12 s a es:
“Uni e si ies should unc ion as social ins i u ions, no
only p o iding educa ion and esea ch bu also ac i ely
add essing social issues.” This highligh s he
impo ance o uni e si ies as cen e s o cul u al and
social change. Uni e si ies can enhance public cul u e by
o ganizing wo kshops and social p og ams. In e iewee
5 also unde sco es he cul u al ole o he uni e si y: “I
is e y impo an o uni e si ies o play a cul u al ole.
We need o suppo di e en cul u es and make su e ha
all o ou s uden s eel a ease.” This sugges s cul u al
di e si y can en ich he academic se ing and s eng hen
s uden s' sense o belonging. In his con ex , in e iewee
19 no es he ad an age o heal hy compe i ion: “Science
can mo e o wa d wi h he help o heal hy compe i ion in
uni e si ies... S uden s will be mo e mo i a ed o lea n
and come up wi h new ideas i hey a e in a compe i i e
bu posi i e se ing.” This s a emen shows ha os e ing
a heal hy compe i i e a mosphe e can enhance he
quali y o educa ion and esea ch.
E hical s anda diza ion is also a c ucial pa o his
model. In e iewee 3 no es: “E hical s anda ds a
colleges a e c i ical. We mus ollow e hical ideals a all
le els o educa ion and adminis a ion.” This
emphasizes he impo ance o es ablishing clea e hical
guidelines o di ec beha io s and decision-making in
uni e si ies. Value-d i en ans o ma ion is ano he key
aspec .
In e iewee 22 explains: “Value-o ien ed
ans o ma ion en ails making bene icial changes in
socie y. Uni e si ies should be ans o ma ional
cen e s.” The connec ion be ween ‘ he ole o he
uni e si y in social and cul u al de elopmen wi h
emphasis on e hical p inciples’ and ‘ he de elopmen o
a e hical cul u e and a mosphe e’ is in e wined.
Uni e si ies, as educa ional and cul u al ins i u ions, a e
esponsible o educa ing s uden s and p omo ing mo al
and social alues. By os e ing an e hical en i onmen ,
hese ins i u ions can help s eng hen he o e all cul u e
o socie y and, in u n, aid in social and cul u al
de elopmen . By embedding e hical p inciples in o hei
educa ional and esea ch p ocesses, uni e si ies c ea e a
space whe e s uden s can g ow in o esponsible and
e hical ci izens. The e o e, he ole o uni e si ies in
social and cul u al de elopmen wi h a ocus on e hical
p inciples is essen ial and una oidable o achie ing
social and cul u al objec i es.
Con ex ual condi ions o de elopmen o
cul u e and e hical en i onmen
Con ex ual condi ions e e o he ac o s ha in luence
he o ma ion and de elopmen o an e hical cul u e and
clima e in uni e si ies. These ac o s can help s eng hen
e hical p inciples and play an impo an ole in c ea ing
an educa ional en i onmen ha is suppo i e and
commi ed o e hical alues. De eloping an e hical
cul u e and clima e in uni e si ies equi es ocusing on
undamen al alues.
In e iewee 16 s a es, “Fundamen al alues such as
hones y, espec , and esponsibili y mus be included in
all ou educa ional p og ams.” This highligh s he
necessi y o eaching e hical p inciples om he ea ly
s ages o educa ion.
In e iewee 8 emphasizes he impo ance o an e hical
cul u e: “C ea ing an e hical cul u e equi es he
coope a ion o all uni e si y membe s. We mus c ea e
an en i onmen whe e s uden s and p o esso s adhe e o
e hical p inciples.” This unde sco es he need o
pa icipa ion om all uni e si y communi y membe s o
build a s ong cul u e. In e iewee 25 also e e s o he
e hical clima e: “An e hical en i onmen a he uni e si y
allows s uden s o exp ess hei opinions and lea n om
hei mis akes eely.” C ea ing a suppo i e
en i onmen is i al o lea ning om expe iences. An
e hical ision is also c ucial o he uni e si y's u u e.
In e iewee 14 says, “An e hical ision is e y impo an
o he uni e si y's u u e. We need o ha e long- e m
goals ha a e based on e hical p inciples.” This
s a emen emphasizes he impo ance o long- e m
planning ha espec s e hical alues. The ela ionship
be ween ‘de eloping an e hical cul u e and clima e’ and
‘s eng hening e hical p inciples and esponsible
leade ship’ is closely in e wined. C ea ing an e hical
cul u e and clima e in an o ganiza ion o uni e si y
es ablishes a conduci e pla o m o s eng hening
e hical p inciples and enhancing esponsible leade ship.
When an e hical cul u e exis s in an educa ional o
o ganiza ional se ing, i s membe s a e na u ally
encou aged o uphold e hical p inciples and ac
[ DOI: 10.61186/edcj.18.1.10 ] [ Downloaded om edujou nal.zums.ac.i on 2025-10-03 ]
7 / 13
Eliasi e al
.
: A Model o E hical Uni e si ies
Jou nal o Medical Educa ion De elopmen ¦ Volume 18 ¦ Issue 1¦ 2025 17
esponsibly. Con e sely, esponsible leade ship oo ed
in e hical p inciples os e s and sus ains his cul u e. In
o he wo ds, e hical leade ship enhances he e hical
clima e. I p omo es e hical beha io a all le els o he
o ganiza ion by se ing as a model o o he s. The e o e,
hese wo concep s mu ually in luence each o he and a e
i al o achie ing a heal hy and dynamic educa ional o
o ganiza ional en i onmen .
In e ening condi ions o s eng hening
e hical p inciples and esponsible leade ship
In e ening condi ions e e o ac ions ha can help
s eng hen e hics and esponsible leade ship in
uni e si ies. These ac o s in luence he beha io s and
decision-making o uni e si y membe s and con ibu e o
c ea ing an e hically-d i en educa ional and esea ch
en i onmen . S eng hening e hics and esponsible
leade ship is a key aspec o he e hical uni e si y model.
In e iewee 6 s a es: “E hical esponsibili y en ails
aking esponsibili y o one's own ac s. Uni e si ies
should encou age s uden s o ake hei socie al
obliga ions se iously.” This emphasizes he impo ance
o ins illing a sense o esponsibili y among s uden s.
A clima e o us is ano he i al ac o in os e ing a
posi i e educa ional en i onmen . In e iewee 1 no es,
“A us ing en i onmen a a uni e si y may os e
collabo a ion and bene icial in e ac ions be ween
s uden s and p o esso s.” E hical commi men should
exis a all le els o he o ganiza ion. In e iewee 18
men ions, “Commi men o e hics should exis a all
le els o he o ganiza ion o achie e ou goals.” E hical
leade ship is also c ucial. In e iewee 10 s a es, “E hical
leade ship is impo an because leade s should be ole
models o o he s.” Spi i uali y is ano he componen o
his model. In e iewee 21 says, “Spi i uali y in
educa ion can help s uden s become amilia wi h human
alues.” This highligh s he signi icance o he spi i ual
dimension in educa ing and shaping he nex gene a ion.
Las ly, mo al in elligence plays a i al ole. In e iewee
4 s a es, “Mo al in elligence helps us make he igh
decisions and ace mo al challenges.” The link be ween
‘s eng hening e hical p inciples and esponsible
leade ship’ and ‘de elopmen o e hics-based educa ion
and esea ch’ is closely connec ed. Responsible
leade ship leads by example, ac ing on e hical p inciples
and inco po a ing hem in o educa ional and esea ch
p ac ices. By c ea ing a suppo i e and us ing
en i onmen , e hical leade s can encou age s uden s and
esea che s o emb ace and apply e hical p inciples in
hei wo k. This way, s eng hening e hical p inciples in
leade ship enhances e hical educa ion and esea ch.
Con e sely, a s ong educa ional and esea ch
en i onmen can suppo he g ow h o esponsible
leade ship. This in e ac ion will imp o e he quali y o
educa ion and help build a las ing cul u e o
esponsibili y and e hics in socie y.
The pi o al phenomenon o de elopmen o
e hics-based educa ion and esea ch
The pi o al phenomenon discussed is c ea ing and
ins i u ionalizing an e hical cul u e in medical
uni e si ies ounded on human and e hical p inciples.
De eloping e hical educa ion and esea ch calls o a
comp ehensi e app oach. In e iewee 26 s a es,
“Educa ion should be based on human p inciples so ha
s uden s can make he igh decisions in he u u e.” This
highligh s ha e ec i e educa ion mus e lec human
alues. E hical p inciples a e also c ucial in esea ch.
In e iewee 9 says, “Ou esea ch should be conduc ed
based on e hical p inciples o eliable esul s.” This
unde sco es he need o uphold e hical s anda ds
h oughou he esea ch p ocess. S uden s mus lea n o
apply hei knowledge e hically. In e iewee 15
emphasizes, “S uden s should lea n how o apply hei
knowledge by e hical p inciples.” Posi i e in e ac ions
among uni e si y membe s a e i al as well. In e iewee
2 no es, “Posi i e in e ac ions be ween uni e si y
membe s can help c ea e a heal hy lea ning
en i onmen .” This highligh s he ole o e ec i e
communica ion in enhancing educa ional quali y.
Educa ing he nex gene a ion wi h e hical app oaches is
c i ical. In e iewee 11 men ions, “Educa ing he nex
gene a ion wi h e hical app oaches is essen ial because
hey will shape he u u e o socie y.”
Mo eo e , ha ing e hical insigh is bene icial.
In e iewee 20 s a es, “E hical insigh helps us o
unde s and be e how we can make he igh decisions.”
The connec ion be ween ‘de elopmen o e hics-based
educa ion and esea ch’ and “ins i u ionalizing and
de eloping e hics in uni e si ies” is closely linked. To
de elop e hical educa ion and esea ch, uni e si ies mus
embed e hical p inciples in o hei s uc u e. When
uni e si ies e ec i ely in eg a e e hical alues in o hei
educa ional and esea ch p og ams and make hem pa
o hei cul u e, hey c ea e an en i onmen whe e
s uden s and esea che s ollow e hical p inciples.
Con e sely, ins i u ionalizing e hics in uni e si ies
c ea es a ounda ion o enhancing e hical educa ion and
esea ch. This mu ual ela ionship will ele a e he quali y
o educa ion and esea ch and os e a las ing cul u e o
[ DOI: 10.61186/edcj.18.1.10 ] [ Downloaded om edujou nal.zums.ac.i on 2025-10-03 ]
8 / 13
Eliasi e al
.
: A Model o E hical Uni e si ies
18 Jou nal o Medical Educa ion De elopmen ¦ Volume 18 ¦ Issue 1 ¦ 2025
esponsibili y and e hics in socie y. The e o e, bo h
concep s in luence each o he and a e i al o nu u ing
a heal hy and dynamic educa ional en i onmen .
In e ac ions/s a egies o ins i u ionaliza ion
and de elopmen o e hics in he uni e si y
To achie e he e hics-based uni e si y model, i 's c ucial
o iden i y and analyze he ac o s in luencing he
ins i u ionaliza ion and de elopmen o e hics in
uni e si ies. This p ocess equi es ca e ul planning, he
de elopmen o e hics cha e s, and ocusing on
communi y needs. In e iewee 17 emphasizes, “Ca e ul
planning is essen ial o ins i u ionalizing e hical
p inciples; wi hou i , no p og ess will be made.”
De eloping o icial cha e s o add ess e hical ma e s is
also i al. In e iewee 24 no es, “Ins i u ionalizing
e hical s anda ds in he o ganiza ion's s uc u e is e y
impo an so e e yone knows wha is expec ed o hem.”
Fos e ing p o essional beha io oo ed in e hical models
can enhance se ice quali y. In e iewee 13 s a es,
“De eloping p o essional beha io based on e hical
p inciples can inc ease he quali y o se ices p o ided.”
A Communi y-cen e ed e hics is ano he key elemen o
ins i u ionalizing e hical p inciples. In e iewee 7 poin s
ou , “The communi y ocus and social esponsibili ies o
he uni e si y a e e y impo an because uni e si ies
mus espond o he needs o socie y.” Addi ionally,
modeling beha io s based on e hical p inciples can
signi ican ly in luence s uden beha io . In e iewee 23
men ions, “C ea ing beha io al models based on e hical
s anda ds can g ea ly impac s uden beha io .” The
connec ion be ween ‘ins i u ionaliza ion and
de elopmen o e hics in he uni e si y’ and
‘de elopmen o heal h and e hical g ow h in he
o ganiza ion and socie y’ is deep and ecip ocal. The
ins i u ionaliza ion o e hics in uni e si ies c ea es a
ounda ion whe e s uden s and acul y adhe e o e hical
p inciples in hei daily ac i i ies. When uni e si ies
p omo e e hical alues, hey os e a heal hie
educa ional en i onmen and con ibu e o socie y's
social and cul u al well-being. Con e sely, de eloping
heal h and mo al g ow h in o ganiza ions and socie y
elies on s ong educa ional ins i u ions ha can
in oduce u u e gene a ions o e hical p inciples. In his
con ex , uni e si ies ac as cen e s o social
ans o ma ion, c ucial in shaping e hical beha io s and
alues ha lead o a heal hie and mo e esponsible
socie y. Thus, hese wo concep s in luence each o he
and a e i al o building a mo al and h i ing
communi y.
Ou comes o de elopmen o heal h and
e hical g ow h in he o ganiza ion and socie y
The de elopmen o heal h and e hical g ow h in he
o ganiza ion and socie y, s emming om he e hics-
based uni e si y model in medical uni e si ies, is c ucial
o imp o ing he quali y o social and o ganiza ional
li e. O ganiza ional heal h can only be achie ed by
adhe ing o e hical p inciples. In e iewee 16 s a es,
“O ganiza ional heal h is only possible by obse ing
e hical p inciples; heal hie employees will be heal hie
o ganiza ions.” Uni e si y ac i i ies also signi ican ly
impac he mo al g ow h o socie y. In e iewee 25
no es, “The ole o he uni e si y in he g ow h and
de elopmen o socie y om he pe spec i e o e hical
p inciples is i al because hey will educa e he u u e
gene a ion.” En i onmen al e hics is ano he impo an
a ea. In e iewee 3 men ions, “P omo ing
en i onmen al beha io s wi h e hical app oaches is one
o ou main asks because p ese ing he en i onmen is
a sha ed esponsibili y.”
Mo eo e , bo h indi idual and o ganiza ional
de elopmen a e in luenced by adhe ing o e hical
p inciples. In e iewee 15 s a es, “Enhancing indi idual
and o ganiza ional g ow h h ough e hical
conside a ions can lead o sus ainable success.”
Finally, social capi al plays a key ole. In e iewee 9
emphasizes, “Enhancing social capi al by elying on
sha ed alues and human p inciples is one o he keys o
he success o any o ganiza ion.” The in e iews
showcased he pa icipan s' a ious pe spec i es and
expe iences, each highligh ing di e en aspec s o he
e hics-based uni e si y model. C ea ing an educa ional
en i onmen g ounded in e hical alues will acili a e
indi idual g ow h and con ibu e o socie al
ad ancemen . Du ing he de elopmen o he heo y, he
mos abs ac ca ego y was iden i ied. This ca ego y,
e med he inal co e ca ego y o cen al code, ep esen s
he highes le el o abs ac ion. As a esul , he ‘e hical
and social de elopmen ’ ca ego y was chosen as he mos
undamen al and inal co e ca ego y. This ca ego y is
su icien ly abs ac and can encompass o he ca ego ies.
I is also concep ually aligned wi h he quali a i e
indings. In essence, he p ima y goal o he e hics-based
uni e si y model is o os e mo al and social
de elopmen in he coun y's medical uni e si ies.
The e o e, e hical and social de elopmen is he co e
ca ego y o cen al code. Figu e 1 illus a es he
pa adigma ic model o an e hics-o ien ed uni e si y in
medical uni e si ies.
[ DOI: 10.61186/edcj.18.1.10 ] [ Downloaded om edujou nal.zums.ac.i on 2025-10-03 ]
9 / 13