Academic Figure: Establishment of New Islamic Civilization Needs Software Movement, Technological Progress

Moqaddasian, also a leading Iranian academic figure, underlined the necessity for the Iranian scientific centers, including Islamic Azad University (IAU) to display a strong presence in the international arenas, noting that the IAU is the only university in the Islamic Republic of Iran that enjoys different branches at the international level.

The full text of his remarks and proposals for the development of a new Islamic civilization and the IAU's role to achieve the goal is as follows:

In the name of Allah

The progress and materialization of establishing a novel Islamic civilization in the world requires, on one hand, the cultivation, education and possession of righteous, cultured and educated people. On the other hand, such a great plan needs the capability to produce and develop a software movement and apply the movement's achievements, leading in the frontiers of knowledge and technology, inspiring and creating transformation in various fields of sciences via promoting the Persian (Farsi) language (realization of the scientific authority of the Persian language) and achieving international recognition, which certainly will be attained in a long period of time.

To do so, Islamic Azad University is resolved to have active presence in the international arenas through pursuing three goals of promoting international status and inspiring, producing science and developing innovation, theorizing and achieving the know-how and techniques of advanced technologies.

Therefore, based on the emphasis of the respectful president of Islamic Azad University, policy-making in the field of attracting non-Iranian students has been strengthened in recent years by the University's Vice-Chancellor for International Issues and Non-Iranian Students Affairs, in the meantime, effective and successful steps have been taken in this regard. The mentioned policy has suitably paved the ground to attract over 30,000 international students from different nationalities including Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Türkiye, Republic of Azerbaijan, Syria, India, Nigeria, Indonesia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Yemen, Armenia and Pakistan studying in various branches of Islamic Azad University. Since the beginning of the Iranian year of 1402 (started on March 21, 2023), Islamic Azad University has made its maximum efforts to attract international students from other nationalities as well.

Meanwhile, the International Affairs Vice-Chancellor of Islamic Azad University has been engaged in activating the official Farsi language teaching center of the university for the comprehensive education of international students and applicants and assessment of the mentioned participants' Farsi language proficiency within the framework of a test dubbed "ATFA".

On the other hand, Islamic Azad University is the only university in the Islamic Republic of Iran that enjoys different branches at the international level. The activities of four overseas branches in the countries of Afghanistan, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Lebanon and England, the activities of the university's office in Iraq and Yemen, and making the necessary preliminaries to set up an office in the countries of Oman and Syria, are among the mentioned activities. Meanwhile, the international cooperation and communications of Islamic Azad University are constantly expanding. For instance, a total number of 245 international memoranda of understanding (MoU) have so far been inked with universities and higher education institutions worldwide. The university has participated in a number of domestic and foreign specialized exhibitions, including GETEX and GITEX, to attract international students. The university has also taken part in various events related to International Association of Universities, such as ASAIHEL.

Programs of the International Vice-Chancellor of Islamic Azad University:

1- Recruiting students from different countries with the purpose of inspiration and with the priorities of:

A- Afghanistan, Iraq, Türkiye, Syria, Lebanon and the Caucasus region

B- Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and the Persian Gulf littoral states

C- African countries, Eastern Europe and other nations

2- Development and effective presence in the target countries through the establishment of overseas offices and branches

3- Identifying the foreign elites at the target countries and planning to grant scholarships and rendering study opportunities to the mentioned elites

4-Expanding the possibility of accessing and then obtaining scientific resources through international interactions

5-Active participation in the international conferences, exhibitions and gatherings aiming at expanding academic cooperation worldwide

Regarding the recruitment of students from Pakistan, it is worth explaining that due to some linguistic and religious commonalities and also the existence of Shiite Muslims in Pakistan, there is a good potential in Pakistan in the field of studying in humanities, technical and engineering fields, and medical sciences, based on which, Islamic Azad University is trying to led the ground for these students to be attracted to Islamic Azad University. 

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