Islamic Azad University

The Islamic Azad University (IAU; Persian: دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی, Dāneshgāh-e Āzād-e Eslāmi) is a private university system headquartered in Tehran, Iran. It is one of the largest comprehensive systems of universities in the world. History Headquartered in Tehran, Iran, the Islamic Azad University is the world's fifth-largest university. It was approved and ratified by the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution in 1982, having been founded and established by Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. The first large-scale private university in the Islamic Republic, Islamic Azad expanded rapidly in the 1990s, overtaking regular state universities in terms of total enrollment by the early 2000s. IAU has an enrollment of over 1.5 million students. IAU has promoted 'higher education for all' as its key objective, growing physically and academically to become one of the largest higher education institutions globally. IAU has two independent and 31 state university branches across Iran, and four branches in other countries: the U.A.E., the United Kingdom, Lebanon and Afghanistan. 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 As of 2016, thousands of new students were enrolled annually. Not relying on government funding, the university 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. Endowment controversy Iran's supreme leader declared the financial endowment of Islamic Azad University was "religiously illegitimate and unlawful", prompting a change within the administration of the institution. Governance The Board of Founders The Board of Trustees 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, Hassan Khomeini, Mohsen Qomi, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, Abdul-Karim Mousavi Ardebili, Hamid Mirzadeh 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 (Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, Farhad Rahbar, Fereidoun Azizi) Three members of the founding board, including at least one member of the clergy (Ali Akbar Velayati (Head of Board), Abdollah Jassbi, Hassan Khomeini) 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 under the Rector of the University Board of Trustees, and the proposal of the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution and the decision of the President of the board of trustees is appointed for a term of four years. Presidents Organization and administration Branches and campuses The Islamic Azad University has two independent and 31 state university branches with 367 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 1051 Sama schools affiliated to the university, along with 118 skill and entrepreneurship colleges. Branches are listed below. Campuses in the City of Tehran Two-year institutions Vice Presidency for General Education and Skills Training: 118 skill and entrepreneurship colleges Skills Training Schools Educational institutions (K–12) Vice Presidency for General Education and Skills Training: Sama Schools (1051 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. International offices The Islamic Azad University has international offices in Russia, Italy, Germany, France, the UK, UAE, Lebanon 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 the current province. 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. 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, Iran Aria Hospital in Mashhad, Iran Yazd Hospital Khatamalanbia Hospital Rhazes Hospital Katalem Hospital Main library The Islamic Azad University Libraries Affairs manages various libraries for over 360 branches of Islamic Azad Universities nationwide. These libraries provide valuable services to more than 1.2 million students, faculty, and researchers. Journals The IAU branches are publishing 508 scientific journals, of which 145 are in the English Language. [2] 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 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 (Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran; SRBIAU) SCImago rankings 2013: International rank: 87, National rank: 1, Regional Rank: 1 2012: International rank: 231, National rank: 1, Regional Rank: 2 CWTS Leiden Ranking 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 Islamic World Science Citation Database rankings Gallery See also List of Islamic educational institutions University system Colleges and universities Higher Education in Iran List of universities in Iran - including list of IAU branches Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch Islamic Azad University, Central Tehran Branch Islamic Azad University, South Tehran Branch Islamic Azad University, North Tehran Branch Islamic Azad University, West Tehran Branch Islamic Azad University, Najafabad Branch Islamic Azad University, UAE Branch References External links Media related to Islamic Azad University at Wikimedia Commons Official website (in Persian) Alumni of Islamic Azad University Archived 2019-11-13 at the Wayback Machine (in Persian)