TEHRAN – Allameh Tabatabai University of Tehran and the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to boost scientific cooperation.

The main objective of the MOU is to promote and expand scientific cooperation between the two sides in the fields of humanities and social sciences, IRNA reported.

Exchanging scientific data, publications, documents, and books in educational, research, and technical areas, sharing articles to be published in relevant journals, publishing joint works, and facilitating participation in scientific activities are parts of the agreement. 

It also involves organizing joint educational scientific courses, sharing information about international educational events that are going to be held at these institutes, exchanging professors, researchers, experts, and students to conduct collaborative research and educational plans, as well as participating in conferences, and educational workshops.

Joint science, technology committee

Following a recent agreement within the framework of the joint cooperation committee, Russia and Iran will establish a subcommittee for scientific and technological cooperation, IRNA quoted Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of Russia Ayrat Gatiyatov as saying in July.

The official made the remarks in a meeting with the head of Iranian Islamic Seminaries Ayatollah Alireza Arafi, and Iran’s ambassador to Moscow Kazem Jalali on July 23, IRNA reported.

"Currently, we are coordinating the composition of the joint committee's membership, and Russia is scheduled to host the first session," Gatiyatov said.

He also announced Russia’s full support of fostering research and educational ties with Iran.

Referring to the sixth meeting of the heads of top universities from Iran and Russia at Moscow State University last year, Gatiyatov stressed that these meetings have always yielded practical outcomes and resulted in the signing of memorandums of understanding.

He went on to say that currently, Iran and Russia are conducting 15 joint projects in fields like material sciences and biotechnology which are scheduled to last for three years, with budgets ranging from $40,000 to $70,000.

The official also highlighted the challenges faced by over eight thousand Iranian students in Russia, particularly those who major in the field of medical science, 95 percent of whom face degree recognition issues.

Gatiyatov expressed optimism that authorities would facilitate the recognition and acknowledgment of their degrees soon.

Mutual recognition of degrees

Iran and Russia are about to reach an agreement on mutually recognizing higher education degrees, Hadi Goudarzi, the counselor of the Iranian Embassy in the Russian Federation, has said.

Once the agreement is finalized, the governments of the two countries are expected to sign a document, TASS reported.

The document will cover the recognition of bachelor's, master's, postgraduate and doctoral diplomas.

"More than 90 percent of the agreement is ready, I think it will be signed at the level of the governments of Iran and Russia in the near future," TASS quoted Goudarzi as saying.

Moreover, Iran has just joined BRICS - comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa - starting academic and scientific cooperation with Russia within the BRICS framework.

"I think there will be a lot of meetings between us during this year where new treaties on scientific and practical cooperation within the BRICS framework can be proposed," Goudarzi added.

MT/ MG