What Does Culture of Higher Education Mean for Teacher Candidates?: Turkish Sample

Introduction

Culture is a multidimensional concept. When literature about culture is analyzed, it can be stated that definitions related culture have differed (Kongar, 1972; Ouchi, 1980; Selznick, 1957). According to definitions, culture provides individual to adopt and shape values of their own society, and affects individuals’ behavior through enculturation. Individuals gather due to various reasons and they constitute the organizations. The organizations consist of individuals’ different identities revealing their behaviors. In this context, organizational culture ensure to understand how behaviors are formed, and influence organizational performance. Deal and Kennedy (1982) stated that the construction of a strong culture is focus point of high organizational performance. The concept of organizational culture has been approached by Selznick in 1957, by viewing organizations as institutions (Hoy, 1990). Furthermore, in an organization, culture impresses behavioral regulation of organization by comprising of premise, belief, and values (Deal & Peterson, 1991). According to another definition, organizational culture is systems, ceremonies and myths; besides, these three components associate with values and beliefs of organization for its individuals (Ouchi, 1980). Organizational culture is consisted of these dimensions; cognitions, values, the symbolic, differentiation, fragmentation, emotions, the unconscious, contracts, patterns of interaction and relationships, defining traits or characteristics (Şahin, 2004).

The elements of organizational culture were stated by Schein (1985). These elements are as follows, (a) apparent behavioral orderliness of organizational interaction, (b) norms developing in groups, (c) organization’s dominant values, (d) organization’s philosophy, (e) rules for harmony in group, (f) organization’s climate through physical environment and interactions of individuals. Schein (1985) indicated that these six elements represent the organizational culture, on the other hand any of them is not the core of the culture. Another point, emphasized by Schein (1990) is that group assumptions shared and get used by individuals in an organization are the most significant basis of organizational culture.

In community, one of the organizations is educational institutions such as, schools, and higher education institutions. As Hoy (1990) indicated that Waller (1932) studied the place of values, rituals, rites and ceremonies in school. On the other hand, studies related to culture in education and educational institutions became widespread after 1980 (Hoy, 1990). Culture in education is considered as a way of providing a greater learning for students (Oches, 2001). Moreover, Deal indicated that successful schools have a strong culture (Deal, 1985). It can be indicated that for an effective education, culture should be considered by all members in education. Brunner (1996) stated that the core of school culture is school itself. On the other hand, Brunner’s this statement should not be implied that school is considered in isolation. On the contrary, organizational culture in educational institutions could be affected by cultural norms of the country and formal educational systems for organization and administration of schooling (Hallinger & Leithwood, 1996).