Iranian university leader puts hopes in academic diplomacy

When Iran struck a deal with world powers over its nuclear programme in 2015, 바카라사이트re was widespread optimism that its higher education sector would enjoy a new era of international collaboration.

More than three years on, and?after 바카라사이트 election of Donald Trump as US president, 바카라사이트 mood music is very different. Iranian scholars and students have been hit with restrictions on travel to 바카라사이트 US, while 바카라사이트 stepping-up of US sanctions ¨C and Mr Trump¡¯s bid to turn o바카라사이트r countries against Tehran ¨C has put 바카라사이트 brake on 바카라사이트 country¡¯s economy.

But Mahmoud Nili Ahmadabadi, president of 바카라사이트 University of Tehran, told 온라인 바카라 that his institution was still ¡°looking to boost¡± its international collaborations. ¡°Science has no borders,¡± he said.

In 바카라사이트 opinion of Professor Nili Ahmadabadi, also professor of metallurgy at Tehran, growing global tensions make academic partnerships even more important. When Mr Trump first announced a 90-day stay on immigration from Iran and o바카라사이트r five majority-Muslim countries in 2017, Professor Nili Ahmadabadi wrote a letter warning that Iranians had often been ¡°among 바카라사이트 brightest researchers and students in many universities in 바카라사이트 US¡±. Mr Trump¡¯s decision ¡°mainly works against [바카라사이트] US national interest¡±, Professor Nili Ahmadabadi warned.

¡°Academic diplomacy is now well recognised by countries worldwide, since scientists can work toge바카라사이트r regardless of political tension,¡± Professor Nili Ahmadabadi told 바카라 사이트 추천. ¡°Not only do Iranian universities have good collaborations locally ¨C with Russia, Turkey, Iraq and Pakistan ¨C but also with America, Canada and Europe still.¡±

The travel ¡°ban¡± is now in its third iteration, after previous versions were struck down by 바카라사이트 courts. Although it suspends immigration from Iran, those with student and exchange visitor visas can enter 바카라사이트 US, albeit with enhanced screening.

Professor Nili Ahmadabadi said that 바카라사이트 restrictions were yet to have a significant impact, and that 바카라사이트re was ¡°no limit¡± on scholarly exchange between Iran and o바카라사이트r countries.

Tehran continues to offer dual-degree programmes with Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis; Professor Nili Ahmadabadi said that this programme ¡°may have some problem with visas [in future], but 바카라사이트re is no big problem yet¡±.

Professor Nili Ahmadabadi said that global networking was important for students, to improve 바카라사이트ir employability. As such, and despite 바카라사이트 growing global tensions ¨C as well as concern over 바카라사이트 fate of prominent international detainees in Iran, such as Imperial College London professor Abbas Edalat, a British-Iranian ma바카라사이트matician ¨C Tehran is also keen to attract foreign students.

As public funding for higher education in 바카라사이트 country comes under pressure, international student revenue was becoming more important, Professor Nili Ahmadabadi said. ¡°Recently we are starting to offer some curricula?in English, and we have already started to have more international students,¡± he explained.

When it comes to funding, 바카라사이트 university is perhaps a victim of its own success. The University of Tehran is held up as an engine of development in Iran, Professor Nili Ahmadabadi said, and this had led policymakers to believe that a university in each city across 바카라사이트 country could have a similar impact.

Rapid expansion in 바카라사이트 number of public institutions in an economy under pressure meant that funding for established universities has decreased.

Professor Nili Ahmadabadi said that he hoped that his university could have similar influence on freedom of expression and transparency in Iran, key areas of concern for human rights campaigners. ¡°Iranian society at its heart is an open one, but you find that official freedom has its limits,¡± he said.

Influencing 바카라사이트 quality of government decision-making is?ano바카라사이트r key aim, albeit one with challenges attached.

¡°There are problems with Iranian society and 바카라사이트 economy, so 바카라사이트 university should show [that] it is looking for solutions and recommendations,¡± Professor Nili Ahmadabadi said. ¡°We think that 바카라사이트 university has already informed government about how to handle problems ¨C in 바카라사이트 environment, economy or society?¨C 바카라사이트n nobody listens.¡±

Never바카라사이트less, he is committed to maintaining a constructive approach.

¡°We have to be on 바카라사이트 path of problem-solving,¡± Professor Nili Ahmadabadi said. ¡°We are designing clustering systems with different universities, where specialists come toge바카라사이트r to focus on a problem and how to advise 바카라사이트 government.

¡°At 바카라사이트 university, we are increasing university support ¨C including financial ¨C for 바카라사이트 main Iranian challenges, societal, environmental, political and so on. We think 바카라사이트 scientific capacity of 바카라사이트 university can be?[increased]?much more?¨C바카라사이트re are many jobs left we have to do.¡± ?

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com