The Islamic Azad University (IAU; fa, دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی, ''Dāneshgāh-e Āzād-e Eslāmi'') is a
private
Private or privates may refer to:
Music
* " In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation''
* Private (band), a Denmark-based band
* "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorde ...
university system
A university system is a set of multiple affiliated universities and colleges that are usually geographically distributed. Typically, all member universities in a university system share a common component among all of their various names. Usually ...
headquartered in
Tehran
Tehran (; fa, تهران ) is the largest city in Tehran Province and the capital of Iran. With a population of around 9 million in the city and around 16 million in the larger metropolitan area of Greater Tehran, Tehran is the most popul ...
,
Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...
. It is one of the largest comprehensive systems of
universities
A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United State ...
,
college
A college (Latin: ''collegium'') is an educational institution or a constituent part of one. A college may be a degree-awarding tertiary educational institution, a part of a collegiate or federal university, an institution offerin ...
s, and
community college
A community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries: many community colleges have an "open enrollment" for students who have graduated from high school (also known as senior s ...
s in the world. Besides
Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...
, the university has international
satellite branches in countries such as
Afghanistan
Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,; prs, امارت اسلامی افغانستان is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. Referred to as the Heart of Asia, it is borde ...
, the
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates (UAE; ar, اَلْإِمَارَات الْعَرَبِيَة الْمُتَحِدَة ), or simply the Emirates ( ar, الِْإمَارَات ), is a country in Western Asia (Middle East, The Middle East). It is ...
,
Lebanon
Lebanon ( , ar, لُبْنَان, translit=lubnān, ), officially the Republic of Lebanon () or the Lebanese Republic, is a country in Western Asia. It is located between Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south, while Cyprus lie ...
and England.
History
Headquartered in
Tehran
Tehran (; fa, تهران ) is the largest city in Tehran Province and the capital of Iran. With a population of around 9 million in the city and around 16 million in the larger metropolitan area of Greater Tehran, Tehran is the most popul ...
, Iran, the Islamic Azad University is
the world's sixth-largest university
A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United Stat ...
. It was approved and ratified by the
Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution
The Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution (SCCR; fa, شورای عالی انقلاب فرهنگی, shoraye a'ali enqelabe farhangi) is a conservative-dominated body based in Qom, set up at the time of Ayatollah Khomeini. Its decisions can o ...
in 1982, having been founded and established by
Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani
Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani ( fa, اکبر هاشمی رفسنجانی, Akbar Hāshemī Rafsanjānī, born Akbar Hashemi Bahramani, 25 August 1934 – 8 January 2017) was an Iranian politician, writer, and one of the founding fathers of the Islami ...
. It has an enrollment of 1 million students.
Since its inception in 1982, it has grown both physically and academically to become one of the largest higher education institutions globally. Over the years, IAU has promoted 'higher education for all' as its key objective. IAU has two independent and 31
state university
A state university system in the United States is a group of public universities supported by an individual state, territory or federal district. These systems constitute the majority of public-funded universities in the country.
State univer ...
branches across Iran, and four branches in other countries: the
U.A.E.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE; ar, اَلْإِمَارَات الْعَرَبِيَة الْمُتَحِدَة ), or simply the Emirates ( ar, الِْإمَارَات ), is a country in Western Asia (The Middle East). It is located at th ...
, the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and ...
,
Lebanon
Lebanon ( , ar, لُبْنَان, translit=lubnān, ), officially the Republic of Lebanon () or the Lebanese Republic, is a country in Western Asia. It is located between Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south, while Cyprus lie ...
and
Afghanistan
Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,; prs, امارت اسلامی افغانستان is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. Referred to as the Heart of Asia, it is borde ...
.
Over the years, the university has accumulated assets estimated to be worth $20–25 billion.
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.
The certificates issued by this university are recognized by the
Ministry of Science, Research and Technology and
Ministry of Health and Medical Education for medical education.
The university admits students through the National Wide Entrance Examination held by the National (Iranian) Organization of Educational Testing.
Endowment controversy
Iran's supreme leader has declared the
financial endowment
A financial endowment is a legal structure for managing, and in many cases indefinitely perpetuating, a pool of financial, real estate, or other investments for a specific purpose according to the will of its founders and donors. Endowments are o ...
of Islamic Azad University to be "religiously illegitimate and unlawful", prompting a change within the administration of the institution.
Governance
* The Board of Founders
* The
Board of Trustees
A board of directors (commonly referred simply as the board) is an executive committee that jointly supervises the activities of an organization, which can be either a for-profit or a nonprofit organization such as a business, nonprofit org ...
* The President of the university
* The University Council
Board of Founders
The board consists of nine people, including
Ali Akbar Velayati (Head of Board),
Abdollah Jassbi,
Ali Akbar Nategh-Nouri
Ali Akbar Nateq-Nouri ( fa, علیاکبر ناطقنوری; sometimes spelt Nategh-Nouri, born 6 October 1944) is an Iranian politician, who served as the Chairman of the Parliament of Iran from 1992 to 2000. He was also the Minister of ...
,
Hassan Khomeini
Sayyid Hassan Khomeini ( fa, سيد حسن خمينی; born 23 July 1972) is an Iranian cleric. He has been called "the most prominent" grandchild of Ruhollah Khomeini, who had 15 grandchildren in total, and the one "who many think could have a p ...
,
Mohsen Qomi,
Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani
Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani ( fa, اکبر هاشمی رفسنجانی, Akbar Hāshemī Rafsanjānī, born Akbar Hashemi Bahramani, 25 August 1934 – 8 January 2017) was an Iranian politician, writer, and one of the founding fathers of the Islami ...
,
Abdul-Karim Mousavi Ardebili
Sayyid Abdolkarim Mousavi Ardebili ( fa, سید عبدالکریم موسوی اردبیلی, 28 January 1926 – 23 November 2016) was an Iranian reformist politician and Twelver shi'a marja.
Political career
Ardebili was a supporter of Ayato ...
,
Hamid Mirzadeh
Hamid Mirzadeh ( fa, حمید میرزاده, born November 29, 1950) is an Iranian politician and academic who was the 3rd president of the Islamic Azad University system.
Early life and education
He was born on 29 November 1950 in Sirjan, Ker ...
and one vacant position.
Board of Trustees
Members include:
* Three members of full-time associated or higher rank professor faculty of the universities approved by the
Supreme Council of Cultural Revolution
The Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution (SCCR; fa, شورای عالی انقلاب فرهنگی, shoraye a'ali enqelabe farhangi) is a conservative-dominated body based in Qom, set up at the time of Ayatollah Khomeini. Its decisions can o ...
(
Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi,
Farhad Rahbar
Farhad Rahbar ( fa, فرهاد رهبر; born 5 October 1959, in Semnan) is an Iranian economist, academic, president and member of board of trustees of the Islamic Azad University, full professor of interdisciplinary economics and the former Ch ...
, Fereidoun Azizi)
* Three members of the founding board, including at least one member of the
clergy
Clergy are formal leaders within established religions. Their roles and functions vary in different religious traditions, but usually involve presiding over specific rituals and teaching their religion's doctrines and practices. Some of the ter ...
(
Ali Akbar Velayati (Head of Board),
Abdollah Jassbi,
Hassan Khomeini
Sayyid Hassan Khomeini ( fa, سيد حسن خمينی; born 23 July 1972) is an Iranian cleric. He has been called "the most prominent" grandchild of Ruhollah Khomeini, who had 15 grandchildren in total, and the one "who many think could have a p ...
)
* The Ministers of
Science, Research and Technology and
Health and Medical Education or their representatives
* The head of the
Supreme Leader's representative in universities or his deputy
* The president of the university (Board Secretary)
Board of Directors
The administration of the university is the Rector of the University Board of Trustees and approved the proposal of the
Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution
The Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution (SCCR; fa, شورای عالی انقلاب فرهنگی, shoraye a'ali enqelabe farhangi) is a conservative-dominated body based in Qom, set up at the time of Ayatollah Khomeini. Its decisions can o ...
and the decision of the President of the board of trustees is appointed for a term of four years. All Islamic Azad University campuses are governed by the Regents of the university.
Presidents
Organization and administration
Central Organization (University System):
*Vice Presidency for Research, Technology and Innovation
*Vice Presidency for Student and Cultural Affairs
*Vice Presidency for Development and Resource Management (Financial and Administrative Affairs)
*Vice Presidency for International Affairs and Non-Iranian Students
*Vice Presidency for Science, Engineering and Agriculture (Academic and Post Graduate Affairs)
*Vice Presidency for Medical Sciences
*Vice Presidency for Humanities and Arts
*Vice Presidency for Parliamentary Affairs and Social Relations
*Vice Presidency for General Education and Skills Training (Sama)
*Research Institute and Laboratory Networks
*Science and Technology Park
*Center of Admissions
*Center for Martyrs and Veterans Affairs
*Center for Provincial Board of Trustees
*Center for Audit of the Board of Trustees
*Center of Construction and Real Estate
*Center of Monitoring, Inspection and Complaints
*Policy Institute of Strategic Studies
*Law Office
*Cultural Center of Imam Khomeini and the Islamic Revolution
*Knowledge Based Economy and Finance Council
*Trading Commission
*Research and Technology Fund
Branches and campuses
The Islamic Azad University has two independent and 31
state university
A state university system in the United States is a group of public universities supported by an individual state, territory or federal district. These systems constitute the majority of public-funded universities in the country.
State univer ...
branches with 321 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 767 Sama schools affiliated to the university, along with 116 skill and entrepreneurship colleges.
These campuses are under the direct control of the board of trustees and the President. The best known and famous branches are listed below. The most distinguished, most highly ranked and most prestigious, are
Central Tehran and
Science and Research.
Campuses in the City of Tehran
Two-year institutions
Vice Presidency for General Education and Skills Training:
* 116 skill and entrepreneurship colleges
* Skills Training Schools
Educational institutions (
K-12
K-1 is a professional kickboxing promotion established in 1993, well known worldwide mainly for its heavyweight division fights and Grand Prix tournaments. In January 2012, K-1 Global Holdings Limited, a company registered in Hong Kong, acqui ...
)
Vice Presidency for General Education and Skills Training:
* Sama Schools (767 pre schools, primary schools, secondary schools, elementary schools, middle schools, high schools and university-preparatory schools)
Overseas branches
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.
In 1995, a branch was opened in
Dubai
Dubai (, ; ar, wikt:دبي, دبي, translit=Dubayy, , ) is the List of cities in the United Arab Emirates#Major cities, most populous city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the capital of the Emirate of Dubai, the most populated of the 7 ...
.
International offices
The Islamic Azad University has international offices in Russia, Italy, Germany, the UK,
UAE,
Lebanon
Lebanon ( , ar, لُبْنَان, translit=lubnān, ), officially the Republic of Lebanon () or the Lebanese Republic, is a country in Western Asia. It is located between Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south, while Cyprus lie ...
and Afghanistan.
State universities
IAU has 31 state universities (provincial universities) located throughout the provinces of Iran. Digits in parentheses indicate the number of branches in current province.
*
Islamic Azad University, Alborz Province (3)
* Islamic Azad University, Ardabil Province (8)
*
Islamic Azad University, East Azerbaijan Province (27)
* Islamic Azad University, West Azerbaijan Province (10)
Islamic Azad University, Bushehr Province(11)
* Islamic Azad University, Chahar Mahaal and Bakhtiari Province (3)
*
Islamic Azad University, Fars Province (30)
*
Islamic Azad University, Gilan Province (12)
*
Islamic Azad University, Golestan Province (10)
* Islamic Azad University, Hamadan Province (6)
* Islamic Azad University, Hormozgan Province (12)
* Islamic Azad University, Ilam Province (5)
*
Islamic Azad University, Isfahan Province (24)
* Islamic Azad University, Kerman Province (12)
* Islamic Azad University, Kermanshah Province (8)
*
Islamic Azad University, North Khorasan Province (4)
*
Islamic Azad University, Razavi Khorasan Province (14)
*
Islamic Azad University, South Khorasan Province (4)
*
Islamic Azad University, Khuzestan Province (17)
* Islamic Azad University, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province (3)
*
Islamic Azad University, Kurdistan Province (6)
* Islamic Azad University, Lorestan Province (6)
* Islamic Azad University, Markazi Province (15)
* Islamic Azad University, Mazandaran Province (14)
* Islamic Azad University, Qazvin Province (4)
* Islamic Azad University, Qom Province (1)
* Islamic Azad University, Semnan Province (7)
* Islamic Azad University, Sistan and Baluchestan Province (7)
*
Islamic Azad University, Tehran Province (24)
* Islamic Azad University, Yazd Province (10)
*
Islamic Azad University, Zanjan Province (4)
Admissions
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.
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).
Distribution of students
In the academic year 2021–2022:
Distribution of graduates
In the academic year 2021–2022:
Medical centers
IAU' medical centers include:
(Not included Veterinary Medicine and Clinical and Health Psychology)
* 107 branches in medical sciences
* 1669 faculty members
* 43,728 medical sciences students
* 72 majors in different levels
There are 825 active beds in 10 hospitals in Iran, and has 1273 approval beds. Each medical center serves as the primary
teaching site for that campus's
medical school
A medical school is a tertiary educational institution, or part of such an institution, that teaches medicine, and awards a professional degree for physicians. Such medical degrees include the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS, ...
. Some hospitals are listed below:
* Farhikhtegan Hospital in Tehran, Iran
* Bou-Ali (Avicenna) Hospital in Tehran, Iran
* Amiralmomenin Hospital in Tehran, Iran
* Javaheri Hospital in Tehran, Iran
* 22 Baham Hospital in
Mashhad
Mashhad ( fa, مشهد, Mašhad ), also spelled Mashad, is the second-most-populous city in Iran, located in the relatively remote north-east of the country about from Tehran. It serves as the capital of Razavi Khorasan Province and has a po ...
, Iran
* Aria Hospital in Mashhad, Iran
* Yazd Hospital
* Khatamalanbia Hospital
* Rhazes Hospital
* Katalem Hospital
Rankings
'' U.S. News & World Report'' rankings
:2023 Best Global Universities Ranking
*Global Ranking: 394
*Regional (Asia) Ranking: 77
*Country Ranking: 2
:Subject ranking
*Agricultural Sciences: 117
*Artificial Intelligence: 55
*Biology and Biochemistry: 299
*Biotechnology and Applied Microbiology: 136
*Chemical Engineering: 36
*Chemistry: 136
*Civil Engineering: 14
*Clinical Medicine: 644
*Computer Science: 234
*Condensed Matter Physics: 124
*Electrical and Electronic Engineering: 110
*Energy and Fuels: 40
*Engineering: 37
*Environment/Ecology: 367
*Food Science and Technology: 84
*Geosciences: 385
*Materials Science: 267
*Mathematics: 29
*Mechanical Engineering: 4
*Optics: 83
*Pharmacology and Toxicology: 181
*Physical Chemistry: 90
*Physics: 200
*Plant and Animal Science: 356
*Polymer Science: 9
*Water Resources: 30
:2022 Best Global Universities Ranking
*Global Ranking: 434
*Regional (Asia) Ranking: 75
*Country Ranking: 2
:Subject ranking
*Agricultural Sciences: 114
*Biology and Biochemistry: 379
*Biotechnology and Applied Microbiology: 152
*Chemical Engineering: 36
*Chemistry: 145
*Civil Engineering: 15
*Clinical Medicine: 694
*Computer Science: 160
*Condensed Matter Physics: 116
*Electrical and Electronic Engineering: 115
*Energy and Fuels: 36
*Engineering: 44
*Environment/Ecology: 378
*Food Science and Technology: 77
*Geosciences: 346
*Materials Science: 244
*Mathematics: 45
*Mechanical Engineering: 3
*Nanoscience and Nanotechnology: 247
*Optics: 118
*Pharmacology and Toxicology: 229
*Physical Chemistry: 98
*Physics: 205
*Plant and Animal Science: 389
*Polymer Science: 27
:2021 Best Global Universities Ranking
*Global Ranking: 445
*Regional (Asia) Ranking: 72
*Country Ranking: 2
:Subject ranking
*Agricultural Sciences: 117
*Biology and Biochemistry: 441
*Biotechnology and Applied Microbiology: 176
*Chemical Engineering: 29
*Chemistry: 110
*Civil Engineering: 23
*Clinical Medicine: 725
*Computer Science: 193
*Electrical and Electronic Engineering: 105
*Energy and Fuels: 39
*Engineering: 47
*Environment/Ecology: 373
*Materials Science: 232
*Mathematics: 31
*Mechanical Engineering: 1
*Nanoscience and Nanotechnology: 204
*Physics: 228
*Plant and Animal Science: 397
:2020 Best Global Universities Ranking
*Global Ranking: 454
*Regional (Asia) Ranking: 69
*Country Ranking: 2
:Subject ranking
*Agricultural Sciences: 84
*Biology and Biochemistry: 466
*Chemistry: 121
*Civil Engineering: 35
*Computer Science: 110
*Electrical and Electronic Engineering: 93
*Engineering: 44
*Materials Science: 225
*Mathematics: 29
*Mechanical Engineering: 5
*Physics: 235
*Plant and Animal Science: 432
2018 Best Global Universities Ranking
*Global Ranking: 497
*Regional (Asia) Ranking: 76
*Country Ranking: 2
:Subject ranking
*Agricultural Sciences: 132
*Chemistry: 136
*Computer Science: 119
*Engineering: 38
*Materials Science: 104
*Mathematics: 21
*Physics: 369
CWUR - The Center for World University Rankings
2021-2022 Ranking:
*World Rank: 372
*National Rank: 1
*Quality of Education Rank: NA
*Alumni Employment Rank: NA
*Quality of Faculty Rank: NA
*Research Performance Rank: 342
*Overall Score: 75.7
SciVisions rankings
2017: International rank: 938, National rank: 5, Regional Rank: 24 (
SRBIAU)
SCImago
The SCImago Journal Rank (SJR) indicator is a measure of the prestige of scholarly journals that accounts for both the number of citations received by a journal and the prestige of the journals where the citations come from.
Rationale
Citati ...
rankings
2013: International rank: 87, National rank: 1, Regional Rank: 1
2012: International rank: 231, National rank: 1, Regional Rank: 2
CWTS Leiden Ranking
The CWTS Leiden Ranking is an annual global university ranking based exclusively on bibliometric indicators. The rankings are compiled by the Centre for Science and Technology Studies ( Dutch: ''Centrum voor Wetenschap en Technologische Studies ...
2014: World rank: 252, Country rank: 11, Regional rank: 194
URAP – University Ranking by Academic Performance
2013: World rank: 161, Country rank: 1, Regional rank: 25
2012: World rank: 226, Country rank: 2, Regional rank: 34
ISC rankings
Gallery
File:بیمارستان فرهیختگان.jpg, Science and Research, Tehran
File:Srbiau hotel.jpg, Science and Research, Tehran
File:Iaum.jpg, Mashhad
Mashhad ( fa, مشهد, Mašhad ), also spelled Mashad, is the second-most-populous city in Iran, located in the relatively remote north-east of the country about from Tehran. It serves as the capital of Razavi Khorasan Province and has a po ...
File:Niau.jpg, Najafabad
Najafabad ( fa, نجفآباد, also Romanized as Najafābād) is a city and capital of Najafabad County, Isfahan Province, Iran. At the 2016 census, its population was 293,275, in 90,158 families. It is located west of Isfahan and is inc ...
File:IAU Lahijan.jpg, Lahijan
Lahijan ( fa, لاهیجان, Lāhijān, also known as, Lāyjon in Gilaki) is a city near the Caspian Sea and the capital of Lahijan County, Gilan Province, Iran. According to the 2016 census, its population was 167,544 in 58,378 families.
L ...
File:RIAU_central_administration_building.jpg, Roudehen
File:Azad-University-Isfahan-Khorasgan.jpg, Isfahan
Isfahan ( fa, اصفهان, Esfahân ), from its ancient designation ''Aspadana'' and, later, ''Spahan'' in middle Persian, rendered in English as ''Ispahan'', is a major city in the Greater Isfahan Region, Isfahan Province, Iran. It is lo ...
File:Dehaqan-gate.jpg, Dehaqan
See also
*
Colleges and universities
This is a list of lists of universities and colleges.
Subject of study
* Aerospace engineering
* Agriculture
* Art schools
* Business
* Chiropractic
* Engineering
* Forestry
* Law
* Maritime studies
* Medicine
* Music
* Nanotechnology
* Oste ...
*
Higher Education in Iran
*
List of universities in Iran
This is a list of universities in Iran.
List of universitiesHamedan University of Technology Hamedan University of TechnologyHekmat Private UniversityQom Province
* Abadan University of Medical Sciences
* Al-Mustafa International University
* ...
- including list of IAU branches
*
Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch
*
Islamic Azad University, Central Tehran Branch
Islamic Azad University, Central Tehran Branch ( fa, دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی واحد تهران مرکزی, ''Daneshgah-e Âzad-e Eslâmi-ye Vahed-e Tehran Mirkâzi'') is a private research university located in Tehran, Iran. Founded ...
*
Islamic Azad University, South Tehran Branch
*
Islamic Azad University, North Tehran Branch
*
Islamic Azad University, Najafabad Branch
*
Islamic Azad University, UAE Branch
References
External links
*
*
Alumni of Islamic Azad University
{{Coord, 35.7328, N, 51.3889, E, source:kolossus-dewiki, display=title
1982 establishments in Iran
Educational institutions established in 1982
Engineering universities and colleges in Iran