Objective: This study aimed to design and validate a model of an ethical university in Iranian medical universities.
Method: The research was applied and mixed-method. In the qualitative phase, data were collected using the grounded theory approach (Strauss & Corbin, 1990) through semi-structured interviews with 26 experts in professional ethics, educational management, and higher education. Data were analyzed through open, axial, and selective coding. The qualitative sample included managers and administrators from medical universities in Zanjan, Qazvin, Qom, Saveh, Arak, and Alborz, faculty members, Ministry of Health experts, and specialists in ethics and medical education. In the quantitative phase, a 30-item researcher-made questionnaire based on qualitative findings was developed and distributed among 384 managers, deputies, experts, faculty members, and researchers. Data were analyzed using SPSS, AMOS, and Smart PLS.
Results: Second-order confirmatory factor analysis indicated satisfactory model fit: χ²/df = 2.081, RMSEA = 0.040, CFI = 0.948, GFI = 0.962, and TLI = 0.956. Key factors influencing the model included policies and structures, ethical education and research, ethical leadership, ethical artificial intelligence, ethical culture and behavior of actors, supervision, social responsibility, and ethical development. Thirty core indicators were identified, including a code of ethics, ethics committees, training courses, responsible research workshops, and ethical guidance for managers.
Conclusion: An ethical university is a multidimensional and dynamic phenomenon that integrates policymaking, culture, education, and ethical technology. It can serve as a framework for enhancing organizational health and professional ethics in medical higher education in Iran.