Modern Higher education in Iran

mccormick hall, american college of tehran, circa 1930.

by end of first pahlavi period in 1941, university of tehran still modern university in country. hence, ministry of science commenced establishment of other universities in isfahan, tabriz, ahvaz, , shiraz, special emphasis given medical , veterinary sciences. charles oberling highly instrumental in regard.

in 1953, there 4 universities 14,500 undergraduate students whereas in 1977 there 16 universities 154,315 undergraduate students.

the shah initiated projects build iranian universities modeled after american schools. pahlavi university (shiraz university today), sharif university of technology, , isfahan university of technology, 3 of iran s top academic universities directly modeled on american institutions such university of illinois @ chicago, mit, , university of pennsylvania. shah in return generous in awarding american universities financial gifts. example, university of southern california received gift shah in form of endowed chair of petroleum engineering, , million dollar donation given george washington university create iranian studies program.

the iranian revolution put end massive us-iran academic relations. in 1980, major overhaul in academia , higher education system of iran initiated ayatollah khomeini led referred in iran iran s cultural revolution . however, universities in country closed down 1980 1983. in addition, islamic curricula , islamic educational setting introduced when universities reopened.

in 1986, ministry of higher education handed on supervision , overseeing of education in medical sciences in iran ministry of health, treatment , medical education. optimize use of medical resources in country, , promote health, treatment, teaching, , research more efficiently in field.

after iran–iraq war, new universities founded , doctoral programs developed in previous universities. number of university students more 6 times many in 1979 (when shah overthrown), critics debate whether national entrance exam useful anymore or not.