Dāneshgāh-e Āzād-e Eslāmi | |
.png){kind=logo} Seal of the Islamic Azad University | |
Other name | IAU, Azad University |
|---|---|
| Motto | No official motto Unofficial mottoes: |
Motto in English | No official motto[1] Unofficial mottoes include: Seek Knowledge from the Cradle to the GraveIranian Aspirations for Globalization Learn and Live |
| Type | Privateuniversity system[2] |
| Established | May 21, 1982; 43 years ago (1982-05-21)[1] |
| Founder | Abdollah Jassbi |
Academic affiliations | MOHME ASAIHL FUIW |
| Endowment | $10 billion (2023)[1] |
| Budget | $0.7 billion (2023)[1] |
| Chairman | Ali Akbar Velayati |
| President | Bijan Ranjbar (acting)[3][4][1] |
| Vice-president | Ali Sorouri-majd |
Academic staff | 53,789 { 21,273 (Full-time) & 286 (Part-time) + 32,230 (Visiting and Adjunct) } (2023)[1] |
Administrative staff | 29,117 (2023)[1] |
| Students | 1,177,977 (2023)[1] |
| Undergraduates | ~916,654[1] |
| Postgraduates | ~199,126[1] |
| ~62,197 (includingprofessional doctorate, medicine and residency)[1] | |
| Location |
|
| Campus | 33 Universities (2 Independent and 31state university in 367 branches) and 1,051 Sama Schools under direct administration (2023) |
| Media | Farhikhteghan Newspaper, Azad News Agency (ANA), Isca News Agency |
| Colours | Dark and light blue[5] |
Sporting affiliations | |
| Website | www |
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TheIslamic Azad University (IAU;Persian:دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی,Dāneshgāh-e Āzād-e Eslāmi) is aprivateuniversity systemheadquartered inTehran,Iran. It is one of the largest comprehensive systems ofuniversities in the world.[6][7]
Headquartered inTehran, Iran, the Islamic Azad University isthe world's fifth-largestuniversity. It was approved and ratified by theSupreme Council of the Cultural Revolution in 1982, having been founded and established byAkbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.[8][9][10] The first large-scale private university in the Islamic Republic, Islamic Azad expanded rapidly in the 1990s, overtaking regular state universities in terms of total enrollment by the early 2000s.[11] IAU has an enrollment of over 1.5 million students.[11] IAU has promoted 'higher education for all' as its key objective, growing physically and academically to become one of the largest higher education institutions globally. IAU has two independent and 31state university branches across Iran, and four branches in other countries: theU.A.E., the United Kingdom,Lebanon andAfghanistan.[12] The university has accumulated assets estimated to be worth $20–25 billion.[1][13]
The Islamic Azad University's activities quickly expanded throughout the country, so that today thousands of students are enrolling every year. Not relying on government funding, it receives charitable donations and charges tuition fees.[13]
The certificates issued by this university are recognized by theMinistry of Science, Research and Technology andMinistry of Health and Medical Education for medical education.[12]
Iran's supreme leader declared thefinancial endowment of Islamic Azad University was "religiously illegitimate and unlawful", prompting a change within the administration of the institution.[14]
The board consists of nine people, includingAli Akbar Velayati (Head of Board),Abdollah Jassbi,Ali Akbar Nategh-Nouri,Hassan Khomeini,Mohsen Qomi,Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani,Abdul-Karim Mousavi Ardebili,Hamid Mirzadeh and one vacant position.
Members include:
The administration of the university is under the Rector of the University Board of Trustees, and the proposal of theSupreme Council of the Cultural Revolution and the decision of the President of the board of trustees is appointed for a term of four years.
| President | Tenure | Alma mater | Speciality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abdollah Jassbi | 1982–2012 |  Aston University | Industrial Engineering and Management |
| Farhad Daneshjoo | 2012–2013 | University of Westminster | Civil and Earthquake Engineering |
| Hamid Mirzadeh | 2013–2017 |  University of New South Wales | Polymer Engineering and Biomaterials |
| Ali Mohammad Noorian (acting) | 2017–2017 | University of Wales | Electrical Engineering and Physics |
| Farhad Rahbar | 2017–2018 |  University of Tehran | Theoretical Economics |
| Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi | 2018–2025 |  Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology | Applied Physics and Advanced Materials |
Central Organization (University System):
The Islamic Azad University has two independent[15] and 31state university branches with 367 campuses in Iran, and four branches overseas, as well as a range of research centers, hospitals, laboratories, workshops, sports facilities, recreational areas and ICT facilities. It now welcomes not only local but also international students. There are 1051 Sama schools affiliated to the university, along with 118 skill and entrepreneurship colleges.[1][16]
Branches are listed below.
| Branch | Type | Founded | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Science and Research | Independent Comprehensive | 1984 | ~ 50,000 |
| Central Tehran | Comprehensive, Head ofTehran state universities | 1982 | ~ 50,000 |
| Najafabad | Independent Comprehensive | 1985 | ~ 20,000 |
| South Tehran | Comprehensive | 1985 | ~ 40,000 |
| North Tehran | Comprehensive | 1985 | ~ 40,000 |
| Tehran Medical | Comprehensive | 1985 | ~ 25,000 |
| Karaj | Comprehensive | 1984 | ~ 40,000 |
| Tabriz | Comprehensive | 1982 | ~ 20,000 |
| Qazvin | Comprehensive | 1992 | ~ 15,000 |
| Mashhad | Comprehensive | 1982 | ~ 30,000 |
| Isfahan | Comprehensive | 1983 | ~ 20,000 |
| Branch | Type | Founded | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Organization | University System | 1982 | N/A |
| Science and Research | Independent Comprehensive | 1984 | ~ 50,000 |
| Central Tehran | Comprehensive, Head ofTehran state universities | 1982 | ~ 50,000 |
| South Tehran | Comprehensive | 1985 | ~ 40,000 |
| North Tehran | Comprehensive | 1985 | ~ 40,000 |
| West Tehran | Semi Comprehensive | 1994 | ~ 20,000 |
| East Tehran | Semi Comprehensive | 2001 | ~ 10,000 |
| Medical Tehran | Medicine, Dental, Pharmaceutical Science & Biology | 1985 | ~ 25,000 |
| Electronic | Electronic | 2008 | ~ 20,000 |
| Fereshtegan International | People with special needs | 2019 | ~ 1,000 |
| Farshchian Islamic Iranian Art | Islamic Iranian Art | 2018 | ~ 1,000 |
Vice Presidency for General Education and Skills Training:
Vice Presidency for General Education and Skills Training:
The Azad University in Oxford (AUO) at the outskirts of the city of Oxford in the UK was established in 2004 to support IAU's international collaboration activities. Through its links with the UK universities and research centers, the AUO provides services to the students and staff of IAU as well as other students and organisations around the world.[17]
In 1995, a branch was opened inDubai.[18]
The Islamic Azad University has international offices in Russia, Italy, Germany, France, the UK,UAE,Lebanon and Afghanistan.[19]
IAU has 31 state universities (provincial universities) located throughout the provinces of Iran. Digits in parentheses indicate the number of branches in the current province.
From the establishment of Islamic Azad University in 1982 to 2013, the admission process of students was through Islamic Azad University's entrance exam which was designed, held, and scored independently by the private university system. Post-2013, its entrance exam was merged with the Public University System. It holds the national entrance exam and some students who get admitted through this process would be exempt from paying any tuitions. However, Islamic Azad University requires tuition which varies by different factors such as program, degree, and location.[20][21]
The university accepts nearly 320,000 students annually (10,000 PhD, 3,000 Professional Doctorate and Medicine, 57,000 Masters, 200,000 Bachelors and 50,000 Associates).
In the academic year 2021–2022:
| Field of study | Percent |
|---|---|
| Humanities and Social Sciences | 50.11% |
| Engineering and Technology | 32.32% |
| Arts and Architecture | 8.72% |
| Medical Science and Veterinary Medicine | 4.46% |
| Basic Sciences | 2.97% |
| Agriculture and Natural Resources | 1.42% |
| Total[1] | 100% |
| Level of study (degree) | Percent |
|---|---|
| Associate | 12.97% |
| Bachelor's | 64.23% |
| Master's | 16.52% |
| Professional Doctorate | 1.67% |
| Residency (medicine) | 0.01% |
| Ph.D. | 4.58% |
| Total[1] | 100% |
In the academic year 2021–2022:
| Field of study | Percent |
|---|---|
| Humanities | 50.71% |
| Engineering | 30.54% |
| Arts and Architecture | 8.99% |
| Basic Sciences | 2.47% |
| Agriculture and Natural Resources | 1.66% |
| Medical Sciences | 1.33% |
| Veterinary | 1.01% |
| Applied Sciences, Training and General Majors | 3.30% |
| Total[1] | 100% |
| Level of study (degree) | Percent |
|---|---|
| Associate | 28.02% |
| Bachelor's | 56.30% |
| Master's | 14.87% |
| Professional Doctorate | 0.44% |
| Ph.D. | 0.35% |
| Total[1] | 100% |
IAU' medical centers include:[1]
(Not included Veterinary Medicine and Clinical and Health Psychology)
There are 825 active beds in 10 hospitals in Iran, and has 1273 approval beds. Each medical center serves as the primaryteaching site for that campus'smedical school. Some hospitals are listed below:
The Islamic Azad University Libraries Affairs manages various libraries for over 360 branches of Islamic Azad Universities nationwide. These libraries provide valuable services to more than 1.2 million students, faculty, and researchers.
The IAU branches are publishing 508 scientific journals, of which 145 are in the English Language.[2]
2018 Best Global Universities Ranking[23]
2021-2022 Ranking:[24]
2017: International rank: 938, National rank: 5, Regional Rank: 24 (SRBIAU)[25]
2013: International rank: 87, National rank: 1, Regional Rank: 1[26]
2012: International rank: 231, National rank: 1, Regional Rank: 2[27]
2014: World rank: 252, Country rank: 11, Regional rank: 194[28]
2013: World rank: 161, Country rank: 1, Regional rank: 25[29]
2012: World rank: 226, Country rank: 2, Regional rank: 34[30]
| Rank | Branch | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tabriz | 4.27 |
| 2 | Mashhad | 3.51 |
| 3 | Central Tehran | 3.06 |
| 4 | Karaj | 2.61 |
| 5 | North Tehran | 2.48 |
| 6 | Najafabad | 1.37 |
| 7 | Isfahan (Khorasgan) | 1.35 |
| 8 | Shahrekord | 1.30 |
| 9 | Quchan | 1.26 |
| 10 | Ardabil | 1.19 |
| Rank | Branch | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Science and Research | 100 |
| 2 | Mashhad | 23.75 |
| 3 | Karaj | 18.53 |
| 4 | South Tehran | 18.21 |
| 5 | Isfahan (Khorasgan) | 13.5 |
| 6 | North Tehran | NA |
| 7 | Najafabad | NA |
| 8 | Qazvin | NA |
| 9 | Central Tehran | NA |
| 10 | Yazd | NA |
| Rank | Branch | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Science and Research | 100 |
| 2 | Karaj | 99.85 |
| 3 | Mashhad | 99.58 |
| 4 | Tabriz | 99.33 |
| 5 | Isfahan (Khorasgan) | 98.58 |
| 6 | Arak | 96.82 |
| 7 | North Tehran | 95.51 |
| 8 | Saveh | 95.10 |
| 9 | Shahreza | 94.58 |
| 10 | South Tehran | 94.06 |
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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