The fourth convention of Iranian and Arab Universities was held in Ferdowsi University of Mashhad on the 24th and 25th of December, 2019 with the participation of Iranian and Arab Universities Presidents. Alzahra University President Dr. Mahnaz Melanzari along with Dr. Parichehr Hanachi, Director of International Academic Collaborations at the University, also attended the forum.
Dr. Hossein Salar Amoli, Deputy Minister of Science, Research and Technology in International Affairs, Dr. Mohammad Kafi, President of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, a group of Iranian University Presidents, representative of the Islamic Culture and Communications Organization, Dr. Mohammad Fanish, Minister of Youth and Sports of Lebanon, Dr. Mohammad Maher Ghabaghebi, representative of Syrian universities, Dr. Jalal Jumaa, representative of Lebanese universities, Dr. Mohsen Abboud Mohsen, representative of Iraqi universities, Dr. Taghi Abdvani, representative of Oman universities attended the lecture.
At the beginning of the ceremony, Dr. Ehsan Gheibal, Vice President of Ferdowsi International University, welcomed the guests, referring to the special status of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. He noted that 20 universities from Iran and 11 foreign universities from Arab countries, including Oman, Syria, Iraq and Lebanon, attended the forum, which will address common issues in the Muslim world through 35 lectures.
Then, Dr. Mohammad Kafi, President of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, welcomed the guests and heads of Iranian and Arab universities, and expressed his satisfaction with the hosting of scholars and elites from all over the Islamic countries. Referring to the scientific diplomacy and the obstacles that lie ahead, he said, science is a world heritage that, due to the multicultural and historical commonalities of the countries in the region, cooperation can be remedied further.
Dr. Hossein Salaramoli, Deputy Minister of Science, Research and Technology in International Affairs, while praising Ferdowsi University of Mashhad for holding this forum, underlining the importance of science and technology in the service of society, said that globalization should be in the global knowledge cycle. He pointed to the design of small satellites, the creation of science and technology parks, and the world's 16th largest scientific output in Iran, the establishment of joint branches and courses at Islamic World Universities, the sending of professors and student exchange. He considered effective steps towards achieving the goals of cooperation of universities of Islamic countries.
Dr. Mahnaz Mollanazari emphasized the importance and necessity of interaction between Iranian universities and the Arab world while presenting the history of Iran's scientific and cultural relations with the Arab world. She has also collaborated with Alzahra University on Arab Universities, including sending faculty and students, recruiting international students, holding joint conferences and scientific meetings with Arab universities, signing academic cooperation agreements and conducting a language proficiency test. The Arabs listed Jordan in collaboration with the Center for El-Arab Al-Arabi.
Dr. Mollanazari continued to address some of the challenges facing Iranian and Arab world universities, including the lack of appropriate university infrastructures, such as welfare-education facilities and the long-term bureaucracy process, in the process of signing university agreements and academic collaborations. While presenting strategies for scientific-cultural interaction between Iranian universities and the Arab world, she expressed hope that such assemblies would foster greater scientific and cultural cooperation between Iranian and Arab universities. He also pointed to the comprehensive capacity of Alzahra University in the field of cultural and scientific cooperation with universities in the Arab world.
During the meeting, the presidents of universities in Iraq, Syria, Oman and Lebanon gave lectures, while introducing the strategic plans of their universities, in view of the cultural, religious and linguistic commonalities between Iran and the Arab world, calling for the development of scientific diplomacy and greater interaction between the universities of the Islamic world. Presidents of Guilan Universities, Kharazmi University of Tehran, University of Religions, Islamic Religious University, Allameh Tabatabaei University and Neyshabour University also gave presentations and made suggestions on the topic of the Forum. On the sidelines of this forum, guests visited the Museum of Documents and Ferdowsi University of Mashhad.