Educational Leadership Research

Abstract This study aimed to examine the internal factors influencing the improvement of university accountability in response to labor market needs. The study employed a descriptive-survey research method and was applied in nature. The statistical population consisted of 750 faculty members from the University of Tabriz, from which a sample of 255 was selected using the Cochran formula through proportional stratified random sampling. The data collection instrument was a researcher-developed questionnaire designed based on a literature review. The validity of the questionnaire was confirmed through face validity (FV), content validity ratio (CVR), and content validity index (CVI). The reliability of the questionnaire, measured using Cronbach’s alpha, was 0.86. Data were analyzed using bootstrap analysis, Friedman test, independent samples t-test, one-way ANOVA, and Tukey’s test via SPSS and PLS software. The results indicated that accountable planning, accountable curriculum, accountable training, accountable research, and accountable monitoring and evaluation all contribute to enhancing university accountability. Among these factors, accountable research ranked highest, while accountable monitoring and evaluation ranked lowest. No significant differences were found in faculty members' perspectives based on gender or age, except for the accountable planning variable in relation to age. This study identified five key internal factors and 20 sub-factors influencing the enhancement of university accountability in addressing labor market needs.