Iranian Journal of Educational Sociology 2645-3460 In Press 2026 09 01 Designing a Competency Model for Research Faculty Members in Humanities Research Institutes: A Mixed-Methods Approach to Customizing the Assessment Center Designing a Competency Model for Research Faculty Members in Humanities Research Institutes: A Mixed-Methods Approach to Customizing the Assessment Center 1 20 10.61838/eyjhkm50 EN Journal Article 2026 03 02 <p><strong>Purpose:</strong> This study aimed to design a competency model for recruiting research faculty members in humanities research institutes through the customization of an assessment center.</p> <p><strong>Methods and Materials: </strong>An exploratory sequential mixed-methods design was employed in two qualitative and quantitative phases. In the qualitative phase, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 key experts, including faculty members, research institute administrators, and human resource specialists. The conceptual competency model was extracted through thematic analysis. In the quantitative phase, the model was converted into a researcher-developed questionnaire. After its validity and reliability were confirmed, the questionnaire was distributed among 218 faculty members employed at humanities research institutes throughout Iran. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling.</p> <p><strong>Findings:</strong> The findings demonstrated that the five-dimensional competency model, comprising individual, professional, behavioral, ethical, and cultural-ideological competencies, had strong construct validity. Hypothesis testing revealed two principal pathways: (1) the interactive pathway—individual and professional competencies → behavioral competencies → research performance—and (2) the cultural-ideological pathway—ethical competencies → cultural-ideological competencies → research performance. The most important finding was the strong predictive role of cultural-ideological competencies in research performance.</p> <p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This result indicates that commitment to a cultural-Islamic identity is not merely an ethical value but also a critical factor in effective knowledge production. Based on these findings, an operational framework for a customized assessment center was developed, comprising five customization principles, five simulated scenarios, and 15 observable behavioral indicators.</p> https://www.qijes.com/index.php/ijes/article/download/1513/1505