Journal of Marine Science and Technology

Journal of Marine Science and Technology

Identifying influential academic factors towards sustainable marine-based development

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Manuscript

Authors
Houshang Hassanpour 1
kamran Mohamadkhanei 2
Parivash Jaafari 3
1 PhD Student in Educational Administration, SR.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
2 Professor of Higher Education Management Department, Faculty of Management, SR.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
3 Professor of Educational Administration Department, Faculty of Management, SR.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
10.22113/jmst.2026.558374.2666
Abstract
ABSTRACT
The present study seeks to identify the influential factors of academia in sustainable marine development, which is applied in terms of research objective, qualitative in terms of approach, and exploratory in terms of implementation. The data were collected using a library method and analyzed using a meta-synthesis method. The validity and reliability of the qualitative data instrument were assessed using the research quality control method. In line with sustainable maritime development, thirteen influential academic factors were identified, including: Sustainable teaching and learning, Sustainable research, Sustainable environmental management, Sustainable specialized services, social and support, Technology, Cultivation, Participants and beneficiaries, Capital, responsibility and social accountability, Scientific and academic identity, Science Diplomacy in the Era of Globalization, Sustainable management and leadership (academic governance and steering), Sustainable administrative and financial system, Monitoring, evaluation, correction and review, reporting and accountability system.
 
1- INTRODUCTION
In the current century, sustainable development is considered the most important and greatest challenge for societies. And undoubtedly, sustainable development has no meaning other than the continuation of "life" for the future of the human race. Sustainable development is a new concept of scientific development. (Song, 2011) In sustainable human development, it plays a pivotal role in enjoying a healthy and productive life in harmony with nature, and in the encounter between humans and the nature of the planet, a large part of it is related to the sea, in which regard, sustainable sea-based development takes on double importance. To achieve sustainable sea-centered development, the active participation of higher education, especially the country's marine science universities, plays a significant role. The concept of ocean-based development, which is generally referred to as the blue economy in global literature, involves the sustainable use of the capacity of  water resources and areas, including oceans, seas, lakes, and islands, for economic growth, improving livelihoods, creating employment, and finally, increasing GDP. (Research Center of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, 2021). An educated person is considered the most important component of sustainable development. Therefore, higher education, in terms of the serious responsibility it bears in educating and training human resources, can play an effective role in achieving sustainable development. Higher education, through training a skilled and specialized workforce, on the one hand, and providing a platform for reaching new frontiers of knowledge and new technologies, on the other hand, can serve as a springboard for countries to achieve development goals (Mahdavi, 2019). Higher education has never been more important to the future of the developing world than it is today. Although higher education cannot guarantee rapid economic development, the reality is that it is impossible to maintain and survive progress without higher education. Higher education helps society develop sustainably. In other words, the role of higher education is to train the specialized human resources needed by society, promote and enhance knowledge, and provide a favorable environment for the country's development (Karami, et al., 2012). Considering what has been stated, in order to achieve the desired situation in sustainable sea-based development, special attention must be paid to all its dimensions, and in this regard, the active participation of higher education plays a significant role. In this study, the researcher seeks to answer the question of what factors are effective in sustainable maritime development by examining texts, documents, and evidence. So that, God willing, its results can be utilized by the universities studied and other ocean-based sustainable development thinkers.
 
2- MATERIALSAND METHODS
 The present study seeks to identify academic factors influencing sustainable marine-based development. In terms of purpose, it is applied research with a qualitative approach, and in terms of implementation, it is a descriptive survey. The data collection tool is a library. The validity and reliability of the qualitative data instrument were assessed using the research quality control method. And for an in-depth study of literature, texts, documents, and evidence regarding the identification of academic influential factors in sustainable sea-based development, the meta-synthesis method (Sandolski and Barroso's seven-step method) was used.
 
3- RESULTS
In this study, thirteen influential academic factors were identified using the meta-synthesis method, including: Sustainable teaching and learning, Sustainable research, Sustainable environmental management, Sustainable specialized services, social and support, Technology, Cultivation, Participants and beneficiaries, Capital, responsibility and social accountability, Scientific and academic identity, Science Diplomacy in the Era of Globalization, Sustainable management and leadership (academic governance and steering), Sustainable administrative and financial system, Monitoring, evaluation, correction and review, reporting and accountability system.
 
4- DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION
To achieve the research objective, the studies conducted show that sustainable development was first proposed in the mid-1970s.And in its clearest, most complete, and most explicit definition, it means maximizing present human well-being without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. It has three environments: local, national, and global, and has political, economic, social, cultural, scientific and technological, environmental, and defense and security dimensions. Given that a favorable environment creates opportunities and an unfavorable environment destroys the continuation of life on the path of sustainable development, and on the other hand, humans are the focus of sustainable development and deserve a healthy and productive life in harmony with nature. Therefore, in human encounters with the nature of the planet, a large part of it is related to the nature of the sea. Therefore, in line with sustainable development and meeting the current and future needs of humans, and enjoying a healthy and productive life through the sea, sustainable development has double importance. To achieve the desired situation in line with sustainable sea-based development, special attention must be paid to all its dimensions. In this regard, the active participation of higher education, especially the country's marine science universities, plays a significant role. Sustainable higher education operationalizes its missions and tasks regarding the realization of sustainable development through universities. In today's world, universities are the most valuable resources that societies have for progress and development. And it always plays a leading role in the comprehensive development of the country. Therefore, in sustainable marine-based development, this important responsibility lies with the country's marine science universities, especially in the field of human resource education and training. In line with sustainable sea-based development and the role of higher education, especially in marine sciences, studies show that no specific research has been conducted in this regard. There are many factors in universities, including marine science universities, that directly or indirectly affect sustainable marine-based development.
 
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Keywords
Sustainable maritime development, Academic influencing factors, Higher education

Subjects

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Journal of Marine Science and Technology

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 01 February 2026

  • Receive Date 15 November 2025
  • Revise Date 07 December 2025
  • Accept Date 07 January 2026
  • Publish Date 01 February 2026