According to an IRNA report, Mohsen Sarraf, the Scientific and Research Counsellor of Iran in Southeast Asia, remarked during a meeting with officials from the University of North Sumatra (Universitas Sumatera Utara) that the shared goal of fostering civilization and addressing social issues forms a strong basis for cooperation between the universities of the two nations. “Cooperation in higher education is crucial for Islamic countries to enhance their educational level and global presence in scientific competitions”.
Boosting strategic scientific-educational cooperation with Indonesia, the largest Muslim country, diversifying the country's international students, and showcasing Iran's educational attractions to recruit students from the East Asia region, as well as establishing links with higher education institutions in the region are among the goals of attending the conference, he added.
Iranian universities are set to participate in the Indonesia Educational Fair, engage in meetings of the East Asian region's higher education network, and formalize scientific-educational agreements. This event will bring together over 100 universities, including representatives from more than 100 Indonesian institutions, along with delegates from over 20 countries, to explore opportunities for collaboration, innovation, and shared growth in higher education.
The main goal of the HEPCON is to cultivate global partnerships, streamline student exchange programs, enhance the quality of higher education, foster global partnerships, and share scholarship opportunities through B2B setups. It also aims to facilitate collaboration and international partnerships between higher education institutions across the globe.
The status of Iranian universities has increased in the latest versions of the Times Higher Education (THE) and the QS World University Rankings, according to the head of the Islamic World Science Citation Center (ISC). World university rankings demonstrate the strengths and weaknesses of universities, as well as their scientific positions relative to one another.
However, they can contribute to boosting science diplomacy and attracting international faculty members and students. It can also shape policies that develop international competitions and lead to the globalization of universities. The 21st edition of the QS World University Rankings (2025) placed nine Iranian universities among the world’s top institutes.
Sharif University of Technology (ranked 342), University of Tehran (368), Amirkabir University of Technology (403), Iran University of Science and Technology (436), and Isfahan University of Technology (489) secured the top five positions among Iranian institutions. Additionally, Tabriz University (552), Shiraz University (691-700), Shahid Beheshti University (851-900), and Ferdowsi University of Mashhad (951-1000) were also recognized among the top-ranked Iranian universities.
The Times Higher Education World University Rankings (WUR) 2024 featured 73 Iranian universities among the world's top institutions across 10 out of 11 subject areas, including the Institute of Higher Education of Scholars and the University of Sanat Naft. Sharif University of Technology, ranked 301-350, claimed the top spot in the country. Amirkabir University of Technology secured the second position, while the Science and Technology University and the University of Tehran tied for third. All of these universities saw improvements in their rankings.
