Integration of the scientific and educational communities of our countries will accelerate work on promising research projects, including the creation of breakthrough innovations. Given the enormous sanctions pressure from the West and the ban on imports of advanced technologies by Moscow and Tehran, this is an extremely urgent goal.
On Monday, October 31, Rectors Vladimir Litvinenko of St. Petersburg Mining University and Mohamad Moazeni of Shiraz University had a working meeting during which they discussed possible areas of cooperation. The event was organised in cooperation with the International Competence Centre in Mining Engineering Education under the auspices of UNESCO. As both parties emphasized, they spoke not only about cooperation between the two universities, but also about the establishment of the Russian-Iranian consortium of flagship higher technical educational institutions.
The list of tasks facing this community will include increasing academic mobility, in particular, unification of curricula in a number of specialties, which will make it possible to exchange students within the framework of a double degree program. Only four young people from Iran are currently studying at the Mining University. Two are in the preparatory department, one in the postgraduate program, and one more in the bachelor's program. There are plans to significantly increase this number, including through the dissemination of information about the achievements of domestic higher education in the Islamic Republic.
In addition, the mission of the new consortium will be the creation of several joint research teams of leading scientists of the two countries. They will conduct research in the field of increasing the productivity of natural capital, including those associated with increasing the depth of processing of raw materials and the production of high-margin direct consumption goods.
"The natural resources that lie in our subsoil should work for the socio-economic development of our countries, not for the enrichment of Western elites. This position is shared by both Russian and Iranian scientists. Likewise, we agree that the dollarization of world trade, the policy of neocolonialism and neoliberalism cause great damage to developing countries, artificially depriving them of a chance to move forward. I am sure that by joining our efforts we will be able to confront these challenges and unprecedented sanctions much more effectively and increase the sustainability of the mineral resources complex, the cornerstone industry for both Russia and Iran," Vladimir Litvinenko said.
Mohamad Moazeni, rector of Shiraz University, assured his colleague that he fully shared his opinion. He also said that the university he heads is one of the largest in the country. More than 17 thousand students study there and there are about 250 laboratories. The main area of training is oil and gas engineering, so the Iranians are most interested in cooperation in this field. In particular, to work on projects aimed at increasing the profitability of production of raw materials and minimizing the negative impact on the environment.
"We have been under sanctions for over 40 years. Therefore, for us the partnership with Russia undoubtedly opens up new opportunities. Cooperation with such a high-profile university as St. Petersburg Mining University is especially valuable. We would like to take it to a strategic level. Considering that many of the research areas conducted by our scientists coincide, it will be a mutually beneficial project that can solve problems of national importance," Mohamad Moazeni said.
Vladimir Litvinenko urged his colleagues to agree on a "road map" as soon as possible, including identifying priority areas within which to begin forming joint research groups. Mohamad Sadeghi, Vice Rector for Science and Technology at Shiraz University, in turn, said that the Iranian side "is extremely interested in the soonest approval of the cooperation plan, its implementation and creation of the consortium of universities."
Note that in early December at the Saint Petersburg Mining University, an international conference "Nature Management and Preservation of the World Natural Heritage" will be held. It will be held under the auspices of UNESCO within the events dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the Convention for the Protection of Cultural Monuments and Ecosystems. About 400 representatives of the authority, scientific community and business from our country and friendly states will be its delegates. Vladimir Litvinenko invited the management of Shiraz University as well as the rectors of universities which in future will enter the Russian-Iranian consortium of leading higher technical educational institutions to participate in this status forum.
