A Brief National Report on Higher Education, Research and 　 Technology

In IR Iran

Hassan ZohoorFellow, The Academy of Sciences of IR Iran;

Professor and Member, Center of Excellence in Design, Robotics and Automation, Sharif University of Technology, Iran

This report provides a broad picture of the higher education system, research and

technology of our country and lays a sound ground for exploring the potentials, limitations and challenges of this system, and prepares a cooperative efficient ground for the scientific and university elites in order to improve the

existing situation

Ａｂｓｔｒａｃｔ

1-1 1852 　 - Establishment of the School of Darolfonoon: the first modern state institute

1-2 1855 - Establishment of the Ministry of Science: the first active involvement of government in the administration of education

1-3 1909 - Establishment of the Ministry of Education, Endowments and Industry: the first step towards the coordinated administration of education

1-4 1911 - Sanction of the constitution of education1-5 1921 - Creation of the Supreme Council of Education: a

milestone in the history of the Ministry of Education 1-6 1934 - Establishment of the University of Tehran: a new

chapter in the modern higher education

1. A Glance at Higher Education, Research and Technologyin IR Iran

1-7 1967 - Establishment of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education1-8 1969 - Development of certain institutes of higher education1-9 1978 - Establishment of the Ministry of Culture and Higher Education: first step toward the institutionalization of higher education after Islamic Revelation1-10 1985 - Establishment of the Ministry of Health, Treatment and Medical Education: separation of medical education from the higher education 1-11 2000 - Establishment of the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology: a step toward the solidarity of the administrative affairs and policy making of the scientific and research systems

1. A Glance at Higher Education, Research and Technologyin IR Iran

2-1 Policy Making Institutes at the National Scale

2-1-1 Islamic Parliament2-1-2 Government Body2-1-3 Supreme Council of Cultural Revolution

2. Familiarity with the Higher Education, Research and Technology System

2-2 Policy Making and Sectional Planning

2-2-1 Minister (Science, Research and Technology/ Health, Treatment and Medical Education2-2-2 Board of the Development of Higher Education2-2-3 Supreme Council of Planning2-2-4 Board of Medical Education and Specialized Education of Different Medical Courses 2-2-5 Central Board of Scholarship2-2-6 Council for the Guidance of the Talented Individuals2-2-7 Council of Monitoring and Evaluation of Higher Education2-2-8 Council of the National Scientific Centers

2. Familiarity with the Higher Education, Research and Technology System

2-3 Administration and Decision Making at Universities and Higher Education Institutions 2-3-1 Board of Trustees 2-3-2 President of the University 2-3-3 Council of the University2-3-4 Specialized Council of the School2-3-5 Educational Council of the Department2-3-6 Board of Directors and Specialized Councils

2. Familiarity with the Higher Education, Research and Technology System

1- Preparation and signing the documents on educational, research and technology cooperation2- Education, research and technology cooperation among universities and educational and research institutes at national and international levels3- Compiling analytical- explanatory reports 4- Laying the ground for the establishment of the branches of universities abroad5- Creation of academic-technical committees for the documents of educational, research and technology cooperation

International Scientific Cooperation

6- Holding national and international conferences7- Activities of the secretariat of Persian language and Iranology abroad8- Being active in the secretariat of the work group of scientific and educational cooperation of the Supreme Council of the Affairs of the Overseas Iranians 9- Domain of the specialized international organizations10- Academic trips

International Scientific Cooperation

The higher education sector has its own capacities and potentials including: efficient manpower and capable graduates at the national and international levels, potential talented and creative students or innovators, possibility of the investments of the non-state sector in development of higher education, possibility of using the information technology and other modern technologies for development of higher education, creation and active role of the scientific centers in different fields of study at university level, etc .

Education

The system has had great achievements. In other words it has succeeded in improving the major quantitative and qualitative indicators. The same applies to the qualitative aspect of the matter to some extent. Access to higher education for instance has been achieved by the provision of a variety of higher education methods and the improvement of the entrance exam system, major steps have been taken. The improvement of the scientific and applied courses, e-learning, open higher education, provision of evening classes and the development of interdisciplinary fields are just a few instances.

Education

9999

8634

5351

5946

2842

1113

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000

9000

10000

State

Medicine Humanities

Basic Sciences Technical & Engineering

Veterinary & Agriculture Arts

Number of the faculty members (2007-08)

5704

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

35000

Non s tate

IAU Non-Profit Univers ity

34952

Education

641822

2302987

137938 55718

1441973

190117

0

500000

1000000

1500000

2000000

2500000

State Non State

Amitted* Student Graduate**

Number of admitted applicants, students and graduates (2007-08)

* admitted students of Islamic Azad University are not included in the figures of Non State universities* *Graduates of Payame Noor University and universities of medical sciences affiliated to the Ministry of Health, Treatment and Medical Education are not included in the

figures of State universities.

Education

8857

2954

5971

955

4250

642

5013

247

2538

198661

1160

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000

9000

Medicine Humanities Basic Sciences Technical & Engineering Veterinary & Agricultrue Arts

All Woman

Number of the faculty members at state universities (women) (2007- 08)

Education- Women in Higher Education

47553

10131 94311875

0

20000

40000

60000

Is lam ic AzadUnivers ity

Non-ProfitUnivers ities

All Wom an

Education- Women in Higher

Number of faculty members at non-state universities (women) (2007- 08)

Education- Women in Higher Education

5571829034

1441973

641480

19011794611

600079

363901

1949879

1154449

10980954475

0200000

400000600000

8000001000000

12000001400000

160000018000002000000

Admitted Student Graduate Admitted Student Graduate

Non State State

All Wom an

Number of admitted applicants, students and graduates at Ｓｔ ate and Ｎ on S ｔ ate universities (2007-08)

Universities and higher education centers and research institutes play an important part in society by managing science and research. This management is done through activities like designating or choosing research topics needed for society, determining the research priorities, student education on research scales, classification and use of applied science and the findings of researches.

Research

Major activities of the higher education, research and technology system in Iran to improve and develop research

1- Establishment of new research institutes2- Improvement and development of scientific journals3- Improvement and development of specialized and scientific societies 4- Creation of scientific centers 5- Supporting the implementation of research projects6- Creation of research and technology funds7- Organization of management of science and technology information8- Increasing the allocation of research funds from the GNP9- Creation of scientific bases and electronic resources for universities and higher education and research centers

91

27 24

1

0

20

40

60

80

100

Establishm ent of Research Ins titutes (2007)

Research Department

Research Institute

Research Center

Research Unit of Independent Organization

Research Activity

Research Activity

9601

765

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

ISI ISC

Published Articles (2007)

Published Articles (2007)

230

63

0

50

100

150

200

250

Scientific Research ScientificDevelopm ental

Scientific Journals (2207)

Scientific Journals (2207)

274

118

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

Proposed Approved

Research Projects (2007)

Research Projects (2007)

177

108

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

Scientific Socities(2007)

Centers ofExcellence (2007)

Research activities of non-state higher education (Islamic Azad University)

- Establishment of data base at Islamic Azad University: to maintain, offer and distribute scientific data of the university and also to provide the saved data and other services, managements, data processing and exchange of information, etc.- Establishment of digital library- Development of the Youth Research Club

1892

3387

1794

181 20

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

ISI Scientific Research Journal

Scientific Developm ental Journal Authorsship

Trans lating

Share of Islamic Azad University in research activities (2007)

Research Activity

1- System of technology development2- Scientific and technological parks and development centers2-1 Science and technology parks2-2 Development centers and technology units3- Technology units4- Invention patent5- Inventions and innovations support 5-1 Legal support5-2 Regional references of academic copyright (evaluation references of inventions, innovations and copyright supporters)5-3 Abroad financial support of invention patent and selling the privilege of the use of the invention inside the country

Technology

6- Support plan for semi industrial research projects 7- Development of information technologies7-1 National scientific network 7-2 Advance content management website7-3 Creation of scientific data center8- Science and Technology festivals9- Facilities offered to small job creating agencies (with the cooperation of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs)10- International interactions11- Development of job creation at national universities12- University and industry link13- Development of job training

Technology

50 151

2895

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

Science &TechnologyParks

Development Centers Technology Units

Sciences &Technology Parks andDevelopment Centers (2005-07)

14225

1327

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

16000

Iranian Citizens Foreigners

Patents (2005-07)

67201

3134

0

10000

20000

30000

40000

50000

60000

70000

University Level Colledge and High School Level

Science &Technology Student Festivals(2005-07)

Activities of the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology in the area of technology

Technology

Source

Institute for Research & Planning in Higher EducationMinistry of Science, Research and Technology

Thank ｓ