According to the Public Relations Office of Iran’s Organization of Student Affairs, the 72nd meeting (and the 4th in-person session) of the National Working Group for International Student Recruitment took place in the presence of Dr. Ghabool, the Head of the Center for International Scientific Cooperation of Iran’s Ministry of Science, Research, and Technology; Abbas Ghanbari Baghestan, the Deputy for Scholarships and International Student Affairs at Iran’s Organization of Student Affairs; and other council members.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Ghabool emphasized that international students serve as the primary engine driving the internationalization of Iran’s academic institutions, stating: "Recruiting postgraduate students not only broadens our global networks, but also elevates university standings in global ranking systems and reinforces the nation’s scientific prestige. Through a forward-looking strategic perspective, we must strike a meticulous balance between 'quantity' and 'quality' to ensure that our pursuit of broader enrollment and maximum recruitment concurrently preserves and elevates our national academic standards."
Imperative of Networking and Diversifying International Programs
Highlighting upcoming institutional agendas, the Head of the Center for International Scientific Cooperation stated: "Two flagship programs—namely, rolling out '5,000 international initiatives with the Iranian diaspora' and '5,000 collaborative programs with international universities and faculty members'—are actively on our agenda. These programs encompass co-teaching initiatives, technological showcases, cultural events, and scholarship allocations, all designed to secure more proactive engagement in global knowledge production."
Underscoring the imperative of domestic and global networking, he added: "Drawing upon proven international benchmarks, the nation’s top-tier universities should move toward establishing academic consortia (such as the Association of Central Asian and Persian-Speaking Universities). Moreover, leveraging the capacity of medical sciences universities through joint memoranda of understanding, alongside utilizing smart virtual education infrastructure, will significantly facilitate enrollment procedures and enrich the academic journey of international students."
Harnessing Distinguished Alumni and the Capacities of Science Counselors
Dr. Ghabool stressed the necessity of engaging distinguished university alumni to support instructional and academic bodies, remarking: "Establishing regulatory incentives and merit-based advantages for top-tier graduates will substantially incentivize their active involvement in instructional and research pursuits."
He also characterized the proactive role of scientific and cultural counselors, as well as ambassadors, as indispensable in projecting Iran’s higher education capabilities, asserting: "As operational pillars of science diplomacy, our science counselors must vigorously spotlight the nation’s academic strengths and educational infrastructure, thereby laying the groundwork for targeted, high-caliber student recruitment."
Elevating Regional Partnerships with Neighboring Countries as Priority
Referring to regional opportunities—particularly across Iraq, Pakistan, and Central Asian states—the official noted: "The country’s higher education framework has cultivated remarkable alignment with neighboring nations. Cooperative agreements rooted in joint research, faculty and student exchanges, and collaborative scholarly publications are poised to yield substantial scientific value-added for the nation."
Dr. Ghabool concluded by observing: "Our objective extends well beyond mere student recruitment; our ultimate aim is to cultivate a dynamic scientific ecosystem in which international students serve as Iran’s academic ambassadors, fostering ever-stronger bonds between our universities and the global academic community."