6th Forum of Rectors from Universities of Russia and Iran held in Russia

Report by the Directorate for International Academic Cooperation–

The sixth Forum of Rectors from Universities of the Russian Federation and the Islamic Republic of Iran was kicked off on 27 April 2023 at the Central Library of the Moscow State University (MSU), named after M. V. Lomonosov. The event was co-chaired by Professor Viktor Antonovich Sadovnichiy, President of the Russian Union of Rectors and Rector of MSU, and Professor Seyed Mohammad Moghimi, President of the University of Tehran. More than 150 Rectors / Presidents from the universities and academic institutes in the two countries participated in the Forum.

In the opening of the event, Professor Sadovnichiy talked about the significance of direct and regular dialogues between the academic communities in the two countries and added that the Forum of Rectors and other academic cooperation between the Russian and Iranian universities have turned into a powerful driving force for advancing the ties between the two countries.

Chair of the Iranian delegation, Professor Moghimi, in turn, stressed that Iranian intellectuals and people see Russia as a state striving for justice, and the academic cooperation between the universities strengthens the trust at the national level. According to him, Iran has always sought to use science and technology for the sake of peace.

Minister of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, Mr Falkov, then confirmed and praised the development of international academic cooperation between Russian and Iranian universities. He added that 6.5 thousand Iranian citizens are currently studying at Russian universities. According to Mr Falkov, Compared to last year, the number of Iranian students in Russia has increased by 2,000, and next year, Russian universities will have 300 state-funded places for Iranian applicants.

Kazem Jalali, Ambassador Extraordinary of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Russian Federation, then maintained that the discourse formed between the two countries is founded on ensuring morality, balanced growth, and development of all human societies, and the discourse will bring Russia and Iran closer, and the two countries' strategic convergence will contribute to these objectives.

Professor Abdollah Motamedi, ATU President, participated in this event on ATU's behalf.