Dr. Naledi Pandor, South African Minister of Education, delivered a speech at Alzahra University on Sunday November 12^th, 2017. In this session Dr. Hossein Salar Amoli, Acting Minister for International Scientific Cooperation; Dr. Mahnaz Mollanazari, the Chancellor of Alzahra University; senior officials and faculty members and International Relations’ directors of other Universities also took part. The Ambassador of South Africa in Tehran and a delegation of Higher Education Officials accompanied the Minister.

In the beginning of the session Dr. Hojjatollah Javani, the deputy to the Director of International Academic Collaboration Affairs, welcomed the guests and stated the philosophy of peace and the love of freedom in Iran and Africa, and commemorated Nelson Mandela. He mentioned that the message of Persian literature and culture is a message of Peace, brotherhood and humanitarianism which can be seen in the poems of Iranian poets such as Mevlana, Hafiz and Sa’di.

Afterwards, Dr. Mollanazari, the Chancellor of Alzahra University, welcomed the guests and mentioned some historical points about Alzahra University as a university dedicated to women. She remarked that Alzahra University is ready to start the collaborations with South African universities and admission of South African girl students in higher education levels.

After the short introductory movie of Alzahra University about higher education in Iran, Dr. Salar Amoli hoped for capacities of better collaboration between two countries. He also mentioned that the collaboration between the two countries should be based on science and technology in order to improve people’s wellbeing; Iranian families find academic education important for their children and this is an important resource for the development of higher education.

Regarding “Successes, Challenges and Dilemmas – the South African Experience of Pursuing Gender Quality”; Dr. Naledi Pandor discussed some points about South Africa’s achievements in equal access to education, health, freedom and social equality and struggle with racism and gender.

At the end of the session a memorial icon of the university was gifted by the chancellor.