World Applied Sciences Journal 20 (9): 1300-1306, 2012 ISSN 1818-4952 © IDOSI Publications, 2012 DOI: 10.5829/idosi.wasj.2012.20.09.684 Corresponding Author: Nima Shahidi, Noorabad Mamasani Branch, Islamic Azad university,Noorabad Mamasani, Iran 1300 The Impact of Globalization in Higher Education on the Universities' Educational Quality: A Regional Project on Shiraz Universities Nima Shahidi and Seyed Masoud Seyedi 1 2 Nourabad Mamasani Branch, Islamic Azad university, Nourabad Mamasani, Iran 1 Department of management, Shiraz Branch, Islamic Azad university, Shiraz, Iran 2 Abstract: This research was aimed at studying the viewpoints of the professors teaching at Shiraz universities regarding the effect of globalization in higher education on the universities' educational quality. The samples were 100 faculty members of University of Shiraz and Islamic Azad University Shiraz Branch. A researcher-made questionnaire with appropriate validity and reliability was used to collect data. The findings indicated that educational quality of the universities was positive affected by globalization in higher education from those professors' point of view. In addition, there was no significant difference between the professors' ideas in these two universities. Key words: Globalization Higher Education Universities Professors Educational quality INTRODUCTION educational quality that affect the quality of professional Globalization is described as' the flow of Tavenas [2] addressed that globalization has always technology, economy, knowledge, people, values been an integral part of university life. and ideas.... across borders. Globalization affects each Bloom [3] stated that higher education is essential to country in a different way due to each nation’s promoting sustainable human development and economic individual history, traditions, cultures, resources and growth. It is no longer a luxury that only rich countries priorities’. can afford, but an absolute necessity for all countries and The term “globalization” represents the international especially for poor countries and the pressures of system that is shaping most societies today. It is a globalization make it urgent that we devote substantially process that is “super charging” the interaction and more resources to the tertiary education sector and that integration of cultures, politics, business and we also reform it at both the level of individual institutions intellectual elements around world. Driven by technology, and the system as a whole. information and finance, a full spectrum of views exist, There is growing recognition that knowledge is the some praising, some disparaging, as to the value of main driver of development. Any form of development, globalization. However, most observers believe that whether defined in social, human or economic terms, has the ability to harness the good from globalization become critically dependent on knowledge. Countries and avoid the bad lies in the cultivation of knowledge with the capacity to generate and assimilate knowledge [1]. and the capability to use it to develop new forms of Globalization is a multi dimensional phenomenon and organization, products and services are better able to a multifaceted process with economic, social, political and attract investors and to take advantage of new cultural implications for higher education. It poses new opportunities [4]. Moreover, this applies not only to challenges at a time when nation-states are no longer the industrialized countries, but also to countries whose sole providers of higher education and the academic economies depend on the availability of cheap labor and community no longer holds the monopoly on decision- the production of commodities. The capacity to assimilate making in education. Globalization, will present knowledge is acknowledged as a key factor that will universities with a number of challenges and enable developing countries to catch up economically and opportunities, which one of the most important of them is otherwise [5]. for development in every countries.