Ibrokhim Abdurakhmonov, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of Uzbekistan, at the head of a delegation, met and talked with Dr. Aghamiri, President of Shahid Beheshti University (SBU) on Saturday, June 17, 2023.
While welcoming the guests and introducing SBU, Dr. Aghamiri stated: “This university operates in various scientific fields in its three campuses: Central Campus located in Evin, Abbaspour Technical and Engineering Campus in the east of Tehran, and Zirab Campus in the north of the country.”
He emphasized the complete readiness of SBU as a link between Iranian universities and Russian and Central Asian universities to carry out joint cooperation and said: “SBU is a reference point for scientific cooperation with Russian universities. We hope to follow a good path with our friends in Uzbekistan and follow up the joint regional works needed by the two countries in the form of scientific diplomacy.”
Dr. Aghamiri referred to the exchange of professors and students, the creation of study opportunities for professors, and cooperation in common fields as ways of expanding bilateral cooperation.
Emphasizing the cultural similarities of the two countries, the president of the university said: “Iran and Uzbekistan have a common historical background, and Samarkand and Bukhara have special places in our literatures. Therefore, we are interested in having joint activities with the universities of Uzbekistan in fields such as literature, Persian language education, art and architecture.”
Dr. Aghamiri added: “SBU is a comprehensive university with the highest ranking in various fields of science such as engineering and humanities. It has a high power and capacity, with research institutes specialized in fields such as environment, laser and plasma, virtual space, quantum and computer, and faculties which are responsible for providing expert manpower for the Ministry of Energy.”
Abdurakhmonov expressed his pleasure to attend SBU. He referred to the visit of the president of Uzbekistan to the Islamic Republic of Iran in the near future, and said that the purpose of his visit to university is to explore ways of expanding cooperation between the two countries.
He continued: “In recent years, education in Uzbekistan is progressing rapidly. We believe that education plays an important role as the driving force of the economy. Therefore, some reforms have recently taken place in the ministries of Uzbekistan, and the title of the ministry in which I serve has changed to the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation.”
Emphasizing the increase in the level of scientific exchanges between SBU and the Ministry of Science of Uzbekistan, Abdurakhmonov called for holding joint educational workshops and announced the readiness of the Ministry of Science of Uzbekistan to invest in the agreed areas and sign a memorandum of understanding for the exchange of professors and researchers.
Referring to the desired areas for scientific exchanges, the Minister of Higher Education of Uzbekistan said: “This country is ready for joint cooperation in areas such as ecological problems, agriculture, food security, energy, new branches of computer and artificial intelligence, construction technology, building materials, textile and economic fields.”