Agreement signed with Ufa University of Science and Technology

Report by the Directorate for International Academic Cooperation–

On 22 April 2024, a delegation from Ufa University of Science and Technology (Russia) visited Allameh Tabataba'i University (ATU), met ATU officials, and signed an agreement on academic cooperation. 

ATU officials included Dr Abdollah Motamedi, ATU President; Dr Saeed Shokoohi, Dean of the ECO College of Insurance; Dr Khanmohammadi, Director of Academic Planning; Dr Narges Sanaei, Head of the Office for Developing International Academic Collaborations; and Dr ... Zadmard, Dr Mandana Sajjadi, and Mr Rasoul Firouzi from the Academic Planning and International Relations departments. 

Dr Vadim Zakharov, Rector; Dr Amina Urazova, Dean of the Institute of History and Public Administration; and Dr Rita Filipova, Vice-Rector for International Affairs were the officials in the Ufa University delegation.

At the outset of the session, Dr Motamedi provided a brief overview of the university's potential and structure and pointed to the numerous leading managers who have graduated from ATU. He also pointed to the development of fruitful relations between Iran and Russia during recent decades which have led to several economic, political, and military cooperation between the two countries. ATU President also reviewed a few of the partnerships ATU has had with Russian universities during recent years, mainly in the area of student mobilities, and hoped the agreement will lead to ever-increasing collaborations between the two universities.

Then, Dr Vadim Zakharov, Ufa University Rector, appreciated ATU's efforts in hosting the delegation and provided a comprehensive overview of their university and its structure. He added that Ufa University has started to establish "friendship forums" with different countries at their various institutes and faculties. He maintained that Iran is the most friendly country with Russia and proposed that a similar forum be established with Iran.

Zakharov added that 30 per cent of their activities are conducted in the area of humanities. According to him, established in 1909, Ufa University is among the top 5 universities in Russia according to the number of students.     

The session was continued with a brief speech by Dr Shokoohi, introducing the ECO College of Insurance and its official affiliation with the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO). Pointing to the numerous academic partnerships ECO College has had with Russian universities in the areas of student mobilities and dual degree programmes, he expressed the College's readiness to cooperate with Ufa University in different areas, especially in the insurance and economics fields.

Dr Amina Urazova then used a few examples of the linguistic commonalities between Persian and Russian and claimed there are immense opportunities for the two universities to cooperate. She added that Ufa University Bashkiristan is an outstanding republic in Russia and the Ufa University is the major state university in that republic.

Dr Rita Filipova then reminded that ATU is distinguished in the area of Persian language and proposed that a Centre for Persian Language be established at Ufa University in partnership with ATU. She also said they are planning to launch an Islamic Economic Bank. Her proposals were well received by ATU President, as Dr Motamedi said ATU will be prepared to provide professors to teach at the Centre and facilitate other student and staff partnerships.

In the area of Islamic Economics also, Motamedi said, ATU will be happy to conduct student and staff mobility and conduct online negotiation and planning sessions, which might further lead to in-person sessions between the officials from both parties. He also added that ATU is ready to provide scholarships to Ufa Students.