Editorial

The Higher Education Governance & Policy journal has increased its international outlook and continues to attract the interest of scholars worldwide. In this issue, four articles from five different countries explore various issues surrounding higher education systems. The first article by Sarıkaya and Şaylıgil, in their article entitled "Development of the Nature of Science Scale for Academics," described the development of the nature of science scale for academics. The study revealed a five-factor measure, which explains 52% of the total variance. The scale is potentially a useful tool for understanding academics' perceptions of the nature of science. In the second study by Adzovie, Attila and Omotosho, titled "Challenges Faced by International Students in Public Universities in Ghana," the authors investigated the challenges that international students encounter at universities in Ghana. Using a phenomenological design, the study indicates that students face various challenges in their academic, economic, financial, and psychological domains. The authors urge academic leaders and policymakers to respond promptly to these challenges. The third study by Kamyabifar, Nazarzadeh Zare, and Khakpour identified factors that influence the recruitment of female faculty members in Iran. Their case study shows that individual, organizational, and societal factors play roles in hiring female faculty. The authors argue that understanding various theoretical backgrounds calls for additional policies to ensure the employment of female faculty members. The fourth article, titled "Analysis of Students' Opinions Regarding Service Quality Related to Physical Facilities of Public Universities in Bangladesh" by Islam and Şahin, examined students’ opinions on the service quality of physical infrastructure at public universities in Bangladesh. The results suggest that Bangladeshi universities face inadequacies in classroom environments, limitations in digitalizing libraries, technological infrastructure to support teaching and instruction, and shortages in other support services, including sports, health, accommodation, and catering. These limitations indicate the need for fundamental measures to improve services for students. In the final article of this issue, titled "Autonomy and Academic Freedom in Universities: Country Examples Based on Types of Governance," Ültanır reviewed the core academic values of higher education. Drawing on the history of universities in Turkey, the authors evaluated the development of administrative, financial, and academic autonomy within Turkish universities. We hope that the articles in this issue of HEGP will inspire its readers.