Medical Journal of the Islamic Republic Of Iran

en Developing a Conceptual Academic Governance Framework for Faculty Evaluation in Medical Universities Based on a Critical Review Medical Education Medical Education Review Article Review Article     Background: Effective faculty evaluation is critical for quality assurance and professional development in medical universities; however, prevalent systems often lack integration, transparency, and contextual sensitivity—particularly in settings such as Iran. This study addresses this research gap by proposing a comprehensive, locally adapted framework aimed at enhancing evaluation practices and strengthening the connections between assessment, academic governance, and faculty growth.    Methods: A critical review methodology was employed, following the four-stage framework established by Carnwell and Daly (2001). A systematic literature search was conducted across international databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ERIC, Google Scholar) and national databases (SID, Magiran, IranMedex) for studies published between 2000 and 2025. Search terms covered faculty evaluation, performance, appraisal, assessment, and teaching effectiveness, combined with terms related to medical education, medical schools, academic medicine, and health professions education. Thematic analysis was used for the conceptual synthesis of existing faculty evaluation systems to develop an evidence-based model.    Results: Analysis of eight international and national frameworks—including the AAMC Mission-Based management (MBM) model, Merit Review system, University of Minnesota multi-track system, MCDA, BSC–AHP–TOPSIS hybrid model, Textual Feedback Analysis Model, S-UDLCD data-driven model, and Iran's SHOA system—revealed that no single model was sufficient. Mission-based, merit-oriented, and data-driven systems each offered only partial strengths, with notable limitations in addressing the multidimensional nature of faculty roles, ensuring organizational justice, and linking evaluation to professional development and governance. Findings underscore the necessity for a hybrid, context-specific system that integrates quantitative, qualitative, and multi-source evidence.    Conclusion: A localized, mission-aligned, multi-criteria, and feedback-driven academic governance framework is proposed. This integrated model is organized around four key features: (1) explicit alignment of academic pathways with institutional missions, (2) integration of both quantitative and qualitative performance indicators, (3) multi-source assessment mechanisms that combine electronic data, structured weighting, and textual feedback analysis, and (4) a continuous feedback and development cycle that links evaluation outcomes to annual academic contracts, resource allocation, and promotion decisions. This model provides a foundation for educational policymakers and university administrators to design fair, transparent, and development-oriented evaluation systems. Future studies should focus on pilot implementation, empirical validation of the model in Iranian medical universities, and longitudinal assessment of its impact on faculty performance, satisfaction, and institutional outcomes.   Faculty Evaluation System, Medical Universities, Critical Review, Conceptual Framework, Performance Assessment, Academic Governance, Medical Education 851 861 http://mjiri.iums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-10140-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Shahram Yazdani Shahram Yazdani shahram.yazdani@yahoo.com 2003194753284600100264 0009-0009-1141-4827 No Department of Medical Education, School of Medical Education and Learning Technologies, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Ramin Homayouni-Zand rhomayouni@sbmu.ac.ir 2003194753284600100265 0009-0005-8376-1415 Yes Department of Medical Education, School of Medical Education and Learning Technologies, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Masomeh Kalantarion kalantarion65@gmail.com 2003194753284600100266 2003194753284600100266 No Department of Medical Education, School of Medical Education and Learning Technologies, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran