The Ideal Status and Expectations of the Gifted and Talented Students: A Qualitative Study

Introduction: Gifted and talented students are the main customers and driving force of the education system, therefore, the existence of a permanent mechanism based on their demands, expectations, and problems seems necessary to improve the education system. Method: This qualitative study was done using conventional content analysis. The participants were 23 gifted and talented students of Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, in 2016. Sampling was performed using convenience sampling by the brilliant talent center of Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. Results: In this study, 23 interviews were conducted. Finally, 118 themes remained in two main categories (factors affecting talented students' satisfaction and the ways to prevent brain drain). Poor teaching methods and lack of educational resources were the most important educational problems. Weak management and lack of research funding were the most important research problems. In the students' point of view, improvement of teaching status and organization of human resources management are the most important priorities for the preservation of the elite forces. Conclusion: The results of this study that are consistent with the results of domestic and International studies, emphasize the importance of paying special attention to the expectations and demands of gifted and talented students. In addition to the educational, research and welfare services problems, socio-economic problems were also identified as a cause of brain drain. Keywords: Gifted and talented students, Qualitative study, Brain drai