Islamic Azad University facts for kids
Dāneshgāh-e Āzād-e Eslāmi |
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Seal of the Islamic Azad University
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Other name
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IAU, Azad University |
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| Motto | No official motto
Unofficial mottoes: |
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Motto in English
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No official motto
Unofficial mottoes include: Seek Knowledge from the Cradle to the GraveIranian Aspirations for Globalization Learn and Live |
| Type | Private university system |
| Established | May 21, 1982 |
| Founder | Abdollah Jassbi |
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Academic affiliations
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SCRC MSRT MOHME AUAP ASAIHL FUIW IAU IAUP |
| Endowment | $10 billion (2023) |
| Budget | $0.7 billion (2023) |
| Chairman | Ali Akbar Velayati |
| President | Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi |
| Vice-president | Ali Sorouri-majd |
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Academic staff
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53,789 { 21,273 (Full-time) & 286 (Part-time) + 32,230 (Visiting and Adjunct) } (2023) |
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Administrative staff
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29,117 (2023) |
| Students | 1,177,977 (2023) |
| Undergraduates | ~916,654 |
| Postgraduates | ~199,126 |
| ~62,197 (including professional doctorate, medicine and residency) | |
| Location |
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| Campus | 33 Universities (2 Independent and 31 state university in 367 branches) and 1,051 Sama Schools under direct administration (2023) |
| Media | Farhikhteghan Newspaper, Azad News Agency (ANA), Isca News Agency |
| Colours | Dark and light blue |
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Sporting affiliations
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The Islamic Azad University (IAU) is a huge private university system. It is based in Tehran, Iran. It is one of the biggest university systems in the whole world. Besides Iran, it has campuses in other countries. These include Afghanistan, the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, and the United Kingdom.
Contents
History of Islamic Azad University
The Islamic Azad University was started in 1982. It was approved by the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution. Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani helped to found it. Since then, it has grown a lot. It is now one of the largest higher education places globally. The university aims to provide "higher education for all."
Today, thousands of students join IAU every year. The university does not get money from the government. Instead, it uses donations and student fees. The degrees from this university are recognized by the Iranian government.
How Islamic Azad University is Run
The Islamic Azad University is managed by different groups. These groups work together to make sure the university runs well. The main parts of its leadership are:
- The Board of Founders
- The Board of Trustees
- The President of the university
- The University Council
University Presidents
Here are some of the people who have led the university:
| President | Years in Charge | Where They Studied | What They Studied |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abdollah Jassbi | 1982–2012 |  Aston University |
Industrial Engineering and Management |
| Farhad Daneshjoo | 2012–2013 | University of Westminster |
Civil and Earthquake Engineering |
| Hamid Mirzadeh | 2013–2017 |  University of New South Wales |
Polymer Engineering and Biomaterials |
| Ali Mohammad Noorian (acting) | 2017–2017 | University of Wales |
Electrical Engineering and Physics |
| Farhad Rahbar | 2017–2018 |  University of Tehran |
Theoretical Economics |
| Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi | 2018–present |  Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology |
Applied Physics and Advanced Materials |
Campuses and Locations
The Islamic Azad University has many campuses. It has 31 branches across Iran with 367 campuses. It also has four branches in other countries. These campuses have research centers, hospitals, and sports areas. The university welcomes students from Iran and other countries.
There are also 1051 Sama schools linked to the university. These schools offer education from pre-school to high school. There are also 118 colleges for skills training.
Main Campuses in Tehran
The city of Tehran has several important Islamic Azad University campuses:
| Branch | Type | Started | Number of Students |
|---|---|---|---|
| Science and Research | Independent Comprehensive | 1984 | ~ 50,000 |
| Central Tehran | Comprehensive | 1982 | ~ 50,000 |
| South Tehran | Comprehensive | 1985 | ~ 40,000 |
| North Tehran | Comprehensive | 1985 | ~ 40,000 |
| West Tehran | Semi Comprehensive | 1994 | ~ 20,000 |
| East Tehran | Semi Comprehensive | 2001 | ~ 10,000 |
| Medical Tehran | Medicine, Dental, Pharmaceutical Science & Biology | 1985 | ~ 25,000 |
| Electronic | Electronic | 2008 | ~ 20,000 |
| Fereshtegan International | People with special needs | 2019 | ~ 1,000 |
| Farshchian Islamic Iranian Art | Islamic Iranian Art | 2018 | ~ 1,000 |
Campuses Outside Iran
The Islamic Azad University also has branches in other countries.
- The Azad University in Oxford (AUO) in the UK opened in 2004. It helps with international projects and supports students and staff.
- A branch was opened in Dubai in 1995.
The university also has offices in countries like Russia, Italy, Germany, France, the UK, UAE, Lebanon, and Afghanistan.
Becoming a Student (Admissions)
From 1982 to 2013, students took a special entrance exam for Islamic Azad University. After 2013, this exam joined with the national public university exam. Some students who pass this exam might not have to pay tuition fees. However, most students pay tuition, which can change based on the program and location.
The university accepts about 320,000 new students each year. This includes students for PhD, Master's, Bachelor's, and Associate degrees.
What Students Study
Here is what students studied in 2021–2022:
| Field of study | Percent |
|---|---|
| Humanities and Social Sciences | 50.11% |
| Engineering and Technology | 32.32% |
| Arts and Architecture | 8.72% |
| Medical Science and Veterinary Medicine | 4.46% |
| Basic Sciences | 2.97% |
| Agriculture and Natural Resources | 1.42% |
| Total | 100% |
Degrees Students Get
Here are the types of degrees students earned in 2021–2022:
| Level of study (degree) | Percent |
|---|---|
| Associate | 28.02% |
| Bachelor's | 56.30% |
| Master's | 14.87% |
| Professional Doctorate | 0.44% |
| Ph.D. | 0.35% |
| Total | 100% |
Medical Facilities
The Islamic Azad University has many medical centers. It has 107 branches for medical sciences. There are 1669 faculty members and 43,728 medical students. The university has 10 hospitals in Iran with 825 active beds. These hospitals are used for teaching medical students.
Some of these hospitals include:
- 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
University Library
The Islamic Azad University has a large library system. It manages libraries for over 360 university branches. These libraries help more than 1.2 million students and researchers. They offer access to books, articles, and digital resources. The goal is to make it easy to find scientific information. It also helps to encourage reading.
University Rankings
The Islamic Azad University is highly ranked by different organizations. These rankings show how well the university performs in teaching and research.
U.S. News & World Report Rankings
The university is ranked globally, in Asia, and within Iran.
- In 2023, it was ranked 394th globally.
- It was ranked 77th in Asia and 2nd in Iran.
It also ranks high in specific subjects:
- Mechanical Engineering: 4th (2023)
- Civil Engineering: 14th (2023)
- Chemical Engineering: 36th (2023)
- Energy and Fuels: 40th (2023)
- Artificial Intelligence: 55th (2023)
ISC Rankings (Top Branches)
Here are some of the top branches of the Islamic Azad University based on rankings:
| Rank | Branch | Score |
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| 1 | Tabriz | 4.27 |
| 2 | Mashhad | 3.51 |
| 3 | Central Tehran | 3.06 |
| 4 | Karaj | 2.61 |
| 5 | North Tehran | 2.48 |
| 6 | Najafabad | 1.37 |
| 7 | Isfahan (Khorasgan) | 1.35 |
| 8 | Shahrekord | 1.30 |
| 9 | Quchan | 1.26 |
| 10 | Ardabil | 1.19 |
| Rank | Branch | Score |
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| 1 | Science and Research | 100 |
| 2 | Mashhad | 23.75 |
| 3 | Karaj | 18.53 |
| 4 | South Tehran | 18.21 |
| 5 | Isfahan (Khorasgan) | 13.5 |
| 6 | North Tehran | NA |
| 7 | Najafabad | NA |
| 8 | Qazvin | NA |
| 9 | Central Tehran | NA |
| 10 | Yazd | NA |
| Rank | Branch | Score |
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| 1 | Science and Research | 100 |
| 2 | Karaj | 99.85 |
| 3 | Mashhad | 99.58 |
| 4 | Tabriz | 99.33 |
| 5 | Isfahan (Khorasgan) | 98.58 |
| 6 | Arak | 96.82 |
| 7 | North Tehran | 95.51 |
| 8 | Saveh | 95.10 |
| 9 | Shahreza | 94.58 |
| 10 | South Tehran | 94.06 |
Images for kids
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Science and Research, Tehran
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Science and Research, Tehran
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Mashhad
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Najafabad
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Lahijan
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Roudehen
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Isfahan
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Dehaqan
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
