In 1979, mass demonstrations against the Shah's regime took place in Iran, resulting in Reza Pahlavi's flight and a complete change in the country's state system.
The Islamic Revolution began with the seizure of the American embassy. This led to the first sanctions - the freezing of all the country's holdings and gold reserves in American banks. And for 44 years now, these restrictive measures have only been intensified, then, for some reason, in connection with Iraq's attack on Iran, then in connection with the nuclear programme. The companies of the "golden billion" are forbidden to work with ex-partners and draconian bans on the sale of hydrocarbons have been introduced.
During this time, the Republic not only learned to live under the blockade, but built a real mobilisation economy, not a so-called one. Self-reliance has become an idea of the nation, unprecedentedly "marginalised" by the Western media.
The basis for the development of any state is education. This is an axiom. And the new Iran has made it a state task. Everything today begins in a kindergarten. Here, in addition to playrooms, dining rooms and bedrooms, there are computer labs. The kids there work with simple developmental programmes. Even before they can read and write, they are already "at ease" with innovations in the field of artificial intelligence.
Then eight years at school, during which time young men and women decide on their future profession. Either they are humanitarians, or medics, or "technicians". The latter, during the remaining three years of secondary school, study maths, physics and chemistry in depth. But that's not all - for another year, unlike medics and humanitarians, future engineers study subjects in the speciality chosen on the website of Iranian universities. And only then, on a single day, one million two hundred thousand applicants take the in-person exam simultaneously in all cities. About half of them drop out. The rest choose a university according to their scores. The best of the best get the right to study in Shiraz.
The fierce competition, the prestige of the profession and, as a consequence, the highest motivation lead to the fact that there are practically no dropouts in this higher education institution. And if they do occur, it is not because of failure to pass.
There are 360 universities in Iran, fourteen of them, including Shiraz, belong to the first level. Bachelors study here for four years, masters for two or three, and postgraduates for four. To become a full-fledged engineer, a bachelor needs to work in his speciality at an enterprise for three years, a master - for two years, and a postgraduate - for a year. The relevant certificate is issued not by the university, but by the Fars Provincial Mining Engineers' Organisation. By the way, to become, say, a mine director, a bachelor must have at least eighteen years of work experience, and a graduate of a postgraduate course - twelve.
The main person in a higher education institution is considered to be the teacher. Twice a year, the Iranian Ministry of Education publicises the availability of vacancies. An applicant sends an application. The commission of the university considers both the professional qualities of the future colleague and his psychological stability. The questions necessarily include whether he reads namaz. The first contract is concluded for five years, and then, if the person meets the requirements of the profession, for an indefinite period.
"The quality of teachers' performance is assessed by the research component - the number of publications in scientific journals, the number of research papers, the number of contracts, projects and patents. But more important is the teaching indicator. Every semester all students are given a questionnaire of 20 questions: how the lecturer conducts the class, whether he starts and finishes it on time, whether he is available after couples. Passing the questionnaire is a prerequisite for students, if, of course, they intend to continue their studies. At the same time, the questionnaire of an excellent student "weighs" more than that of a good student. Then the final score is deduced, the value of which affects the amount of salary," said Dmitry Gromyka, assistant of the Department of Metrology, Instrumentation and Quality Management of the Mining University, who was part of the delegation of the St. Petersburg university that visited Iran last week.
Kirill Anisimov, assistant of the Department of Mineral Deposit Development, specified that the Republic's higher school is based on the credit, Bologna system of education. Training consists of lectures and practice.
"Lectures are given in modules, for large groups of students, then they consolidate knowledge in training laboratories. The first two years of undergraduate studies are focused on the study of fundamental disciplines, in fact, this is an analogue of the "Core of Higher Education", which, as part of a pilot project starting this year, has been implemented at the Mining University. Within three to four semesters it is possible to change speciality. Then the narrow specialisation training begins. The form of certification at the end of each semester is determined by the teacher independently. As a rule, it is a written examination. Less often - a simple interview. A bachelor completes his/her studies by submitting his/her final paper to the department, a master defends his/her thesis," Kirill Anisimov explained.
The Bologna system is currently under serious criticism in Iran, as both employers and educators agree that it is impossible to train a full-fledged specialist in four years. Twenty per cent of bachelor's degree graduates do not work in their speciality, sixty go on to master's programmes, and for the remaining twenty "industrialists" enterprises organise six-month courses. But even this is considered a half-measure. In this regard, the information about the presidential programme of modernisation of higher technical education implemented at the St. Petersburg Mining University aroused genuine interest of the host party.
"The organisation of industrial practice at Shiraz University can only be envied. The university has agreements with more than a thousand enterprises, among which there are both state and private, huge holdings and small research institutes. The contracts, which are supervised by the director of industrial relations, specify the obligations of the parties, for example, free accommodation and safety, as well as responsible persons. The volume of 200 hours is mandatory for students after the third year, but on the initiative of the students themselves, they actually spend two months a year at the production site," said Oleg Kazanin, Dean of the Mining Faculty.
He also emphasised that all young people at the beginning of the internship sign a Memorandum of Compliance with the company's rules, and after its completion they prepare a diary report, which indicates, among other things, the number of additional competences obtained. Successful completion of the internship gives an advantage in subsequent employment in core companies.
Thus, 25 bachelor's students, as well as 15 master's and post-graduate students studying in such fields as "Chemical Technology" and "Civil Engineering" are trained annually at FARAPOX facilities.
As part of the "Employers' Social Responsibility Programme" operating in the republic, the private company Sormeh's enterprise takes in four students whose speciality is "Mining Engineering" every summer. They are provided with accommodation as the mine, which produces lead-zinc ore, is a three-hour drive from the city. With a total staff of 360, the young people have time to work as understudies for almost all the specialists.
Shiraz University has 9 political, 20 cultural and 70 scientific student communities. The largest is the "Scientific Community of Educational Sciences". It organises face-to-face seminars and master-classes with the participation of representatives of the Iranian Science Committee, conducts joint research by mini-groups on grants of up to 100 dollars from the university, its participants write joint articles.
Other similar organisations are developing effectively: "Engineering Science Community", "Energy and Environment Community", "Plant Medicine Association", "Agricultural Engineering Science Community" and "Sociological Science Community". Sports are also actively cultivated at the university, and competitions between teachers and students are organised. In addition, youth associations organise free excursions and hikes to the mountains.
"Tuition at the state university is free of cost. Students are also provided with a hostel. Shiraz has eight of them in total. Girls and boys live in different buildings in rooms of 3 or 4 people. For girls, there is a curfew that starts at 9 pm. There is no such rule for young men. The rooms have a fridge, a bed, a wardrobe and a desk. There are no showers in the rooms, they are on the floor. All dormitories have recreation rooms, study rooms, a computer lab, outdoor and indoor gyms, and canteens. There is also a grocery shop in each dormitory. Three meals a day are provided, the payment of which is reimbursed at the expense of the state. The student contributes 10% of the cost. The amount is about $20 per month. Breakfast and dinner are in the dormitory, lunches are served in the university canteen," said Valeria Starshaya, assistant of the Department of General Electrical Engineering.
Students in Iranian institutions of higher education receive a stipend that is equivalent to the minimum subsistence level and covers about half of their living expenses. Activists can receive state support up to $50 per month. If a student fails to close a session for more than 2 consecutive semesters, he/she is deprived of subsidies, if more than 6 semesters - he/she is transferred to paid education.
The Mining University delegation started working at Shiraz University on the eve of 25 January, Tatiana's Day. However, in the calendar of the Islamic Republic it was listed as November 1402 - according to the solar Hijra calendar. Maybe that is why the host country did not appreciate the Russian saying "From session to session students live cheerfully". Even at night there was almost pandemonium in the local library.
Forty-four years ago, students were the main driving force behind the revolution. Today, no matter what the Western media write about the "pre-revolutionary" situation in Iran because of the uncovered headscarf, there are dozens of girls with uncovered heads on the streets, and no vice police touch them. And students here are indeed the driving force. But not of the rallies, but of the state, which is looking to the future by relying on young people.