Islamic Azad University
| Islamic Azad University | |
|---|---|
| دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی | |
 Islamic Azad University logo |
|
| Motto | Persian: آرمان ایرانی برای جهانی شدن[1] |
| Motto in English | Iranian aspirations for globalization |
| Established | 1982 |
| Type | Private[2] |
| President | Farhad Daneshjoo |
| Academic staff | ~ 46,000 |
| Students | ~ 1,700,000 |
| Location |  Iran United Kingdom United Arab Emirates Lebanon Tanzania Armenia |
| Colours | Dark and light Blue[3] |
| Athletics | Azad University Tehran Basketball Club Azad University cycling team |
| Website | www.iau.ac.ir |
Islamic Azad University (IAU) (Persian: دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی, Dāneshgāh-e Āzād-e Eslāmi) is a private chain of universities based in Iran. It was established by Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani[4].
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History[edit]
Headquartered in Tehran, Iran, the Islamic Azad University was founded in 1982 and currently has an enrollment of 1.5 million students,[5] making it the world's third largest.[6] Azad University has over 400 branches across the country and also in other countries. It has branches and universities in U.A.E, United Kingdom, Tanzania, Lebanon and Armenia and has plans to establish more branch campuses in Malaysia, Canada, Afghanistan and Tajikistan in the near future.[7] Over the years, the university has accumulated assets estimated to be worth between 20-25$ billion.[6]
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.[6]
The certificates issued by this university are recognized by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education.[7]
Endowment controversy[edit]
Iran's Supreme Leader has declared the financial endowment of Azad University to be "religiously illegitimate and unlawful", prompting a change within the administration of the institution.[8]
Rankings[edit]
ISC Ranking
In early 2011, Islamic World Science Citation Database declared the very first official ranking of Higher education and research institutes of Iran,[9] including a ranking of Islamic Azad University Branches:[10]
| Rank | Branch | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Islamic Azad University of Tabriz | 4.27 |
| 2 | Islamic Azad University of Mashhad | 3.51 |
| 3 | Islamic Azad University Central Tehran Branch | 3.06 |
| 4 | Islamic Azad University of Karaj | 2.61 |
| 5 | Islamic Azad University Tehran North Branch | 1.88 |
| 6 | Islamic Azad University of Najafabad | 1.37 |
| 7 | Islamic Azad University Science and Research Branch, Isfahan | 1.35 |
| 8 | Islamic Azad University of Ghouchan | 1.26 |
| 9 | Islamic Azad University of Shabestar | 1.19 |
| 10 | Islamic Azad University of Ardabil | 0.95 |
SCImago rankings
2012: International rank: 231, National rank: 1[11]
See also[edit]
- List of universities in Iran - includes list of IAU Universities
- Higher Education in Iran
References[edit]
- ^ آرمان هارواردی شدن دانشگاه آزاد؛ محدوديتها و امكانات
- ^ Ahmad Ashraf, “EDUCATION vii. GENERAL SURVEY OF MODERN EDUCATION,” Encyclopaedia Iranica, Online Edition, December 15, 1997, available at http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/education-vii-general-survey-of-modern-education.
- ^ "Islamic Azad University Logotype usage guidelines" (PDF). Islamic Azad University. Retrieved January 26, 2012.
- ^ Commentary: Back to the Future in Iran's Election | The National Interest
- ^ Encyclopaedia Britannica World Almanac, ed. 2004, page 666
- ^ a b c http://www.turquoisepartners.com/iraninvestment/IIM-Jul10.pdf
- ^ a b Gholamreza Rahimi, Ghader Vazifeh Damirch, “Islamic Azad University Roles in Scientific Developement of Iran”, Interdisciplinary Journal of Research in Business, Vol. 1, Issue. 9, (pp 84-91), September-October 2011, available at http://www.idjrb.com/articlepdf/idjrb9n1p9.pdf
- ^ Khamenei Enters Battle Over Islamic Azad University and Paves Way for Ahmadinejad Takeover | The Middle East Channel
- ^ نخستین رتبهبندی رسمی دانشگاهها و مراکز تحقیقاتی کشور اعلام شد
- ^ وب سایت رتبه بندی دانشگاه های جهان اسلام
- ^ http://www.scimagoir.com/pdf/sir_2012_world_report.pdf
External links[edit]
- (Persian) Main website
- Azad University IR in Oxford
- (Persian) Islamic Azad University, fars science and research branch
- Education System in Islamic Azad University
- Annual Review - Statistics by the Central Bank of Iran, including Azad University.
- Video
- Endowment of Islamic Azad University's Property - PressTV documentary (2010)
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