analysis of the status of academic education in sport management based on documents and the lived experience of experts: a case study of iranian universities

The aim of the study was to assess the state of academic education in sport management in iran. a mixed methods research approach was utilized, involving the collection of documentary data from relevant websites, followed by interviews with experts in sport management education. the participants were purposefully selected using a non-random method. the findings revealed the existence of 65 doctoral programs in sport management, with a target of attracting 266 students, as well as 261 master’s programs in three tracks within sport management, aiming to draw 3554 applicants. furthermore, there are approximately 230 faculty members in sport management. the experiences of experts highlighted a decrease in the average quality and motivation of students in sport management programs. one of the reported reasons for this was the lack of legal support in attracting specialized individuals in this field to the job market.