A member of the Education and Research Commission of the Parliament stated that 21,000 foreign students studying at Iranian universities come from 'very weak' countries in scientific matters. Karen Khanlari expressed 'regret' about this situation during an interview with the 'House of the Nation' news agency on Wednesday, November 10. Mr. Khanlari added that attracting foreign students not only 'strengthens diplomacy' but also generates income, yet 'the situation of student attraction in Iran has not been suitable in recent years.' Criticizing the inadequate infrastructure for attracting foreign students in Iran, he mentioned that the country currently does not provide standard and sufficient services even to 21 foreign students. According to this parliament member, 'Unfortunately, the academic level of many universities and international campuses in Iran has remained low to the extent that even Iranian students prefer to study in other countries.' He identified 'the lack of teaching courses in the original language and their non-compliance with international standards' as the two main factors contributing to the low academic level of Iranian universities. He stated that if this situation continues, 'there can be no hope for attracting foreign students.' However, he did not specify which countries these students are from. According to Samad Haj-Jabari, the director general of domestic students at the Ministry of Science, there are currently at least 1,500 foreign scholarship students studying in Iran. Mr. Haj-Jabari also expressed hope that, according to the sixth development plan, the number of non-scholarship foreign students would exceed 27,000 by the end of the year 1395 (2016). This official had also announced on November 3 of this year that the Ministry of Science has increased its incentive policies for attracting non-scholarship foreign students. Mojtaba Sediqi, the head of the Student Affairs Organization at the Ministry of Science, also announced that 'attracting foreign students is a legal obligation, a need for the country, and part of the ministry's programs.' Sediqi added that all universities across Iran can attract foreign students and there are no restrictions in this regard. Officials of the Islamic Republic hope to increase the number of non-Iranian students in the country's universities to 75,000 by the end of the sixth development plan.
A Member of Parliament: Foreign Students in Iran Have Very Weak Academic Foundations
Karen Khanlari, a member of the Iranian Parliament, criticized the academic foundations of 21,000 foreign students in Iran, claiming they come from 'very weak' scientific backgrounds. He highlighted the inadequate infrastructure for attracting foreign students and the low academic standards of Iranian universities, emphasizing the need for improvement to attract more international students.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Karen Khanlari criticized the academic foundations of 21,000 foreign students in Iran, stating they come from countries with weak scientific backgrounds. He emphasized the need for better infrastructure and standards in Iranian universities to attract more international students.
- Khanlari noted that many Iranian students prefer to study abroad due to low academic standards in local universities.
- The Iranian government aims to increase the number of foreign students to 75,000 as part of its development plan.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iran has been trying to position itself as an educational hub in the region, but faces challenges due to perceived low academic standards.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%