Prof. Mohammad Hossein  Omid, UT President Press Conference on 12 August 2025

Prof. Mohammad Hossein  Omid, UT President Press Conference on 12 August 2025

The University Has Two Important Missions; Academic and National

In his Press Conference, the President of the University of Tehran presented his views by reporting on the university's activities and upcoming plans, saying: "The University of Tehran has two missions and two perspectives: one academic and higher education mission and the other national mission. The university has a heavy responsibility in these two areas. In the new period, in addition to the usual duties, we have seriously undertaken the national mission to solve the country's major problems and we are striving to increase the participation of the university and academics in addressing major issues to better serve society."

The University's Place on the National and International Scale

Prof. Omid responded to a reporter's question about the university's status: "The University of Tehran is at the top among universities in the country, but despite being ranked among the top 400 universities worldwide, we believe it does not hold its true and proper place. Our plan in the new period is to elevate the university to the level of the top 100 universities in the world, which will of course require budget, facilities, and extensive effort, and we will endeavor to provide these. Certainly, at least a 100-rank improvement is one of our initial goals, and God willing, we will achieve this."

Deepening Cooperation with the Government to Solve National Issues

Regarding cooperation with the government, Prof. Omid said: "In many discussions in the new period, the university is alongside the government. The government also has a strong belief in the university, and the president himself is seriously pursuing this matter. In the government's water governance working group, in addressing energy imbalances, artificial intelligence discussions, and the like, our cooperation with the government has become more serious and is deepening. We hope to soon see the fruits of these collaborations in national major issues and big challenges. The Ministry of Science, Research and Technology, and Prof.. Simayi also have special efforts and a positive outlook, which is very effective in realizing these cooperation."

Important and Strategic Artificial Intelligence Programs at the University of Tehran

The university president spoke about the university’s plans in the field of artificial intelligence: "Artificial intelligence in our country is not in a good position. We must accept that we are behind and are planning to move seriously and quickly. At the University of Tehran, we have over 50 artificial intelligence experts, which fulfills our human resource needs and is a good capacity, but we need to refine our programs and accelerate them because the world will not wait for us in this field. Several major projects are underway regarding AI, and due to their large and national dimensions, we will announce them at another opportunity."

Closure of Unnecessary University Branches in the Country and the Region

In response to a question about stopping activity in some units, Prof. Omid said: "In recent years, the university has grown quantitatively quite a lot. Part of this growth has been indiscriminate and some unnecessary. For example, we did not need to establish many new international branches in many places because we already had good universities there. Therefore, in the new period, these branches will be closed except for two cases—one in Iraq and one in Aras—and no new students will be admitted to them because the scientific quality of the university must be considered. Students expect good facilities and educational quality from the University of Tehran; this is not a big demand. By reducing physical expansion and downsizing the structure, the quality can be improved."

Serious Academic Program Planning is Underway

The university president continued: "Another important matter is program planning (academic structuring). This issue is being seriously reviewed both nationally and within the university. Many programs need to be updated or merged. It is the university's policy to remove or reform ineffective and less useful programs and simultaneously enter scientific and technological fields and disciplines that correspond to the times and the world's scientific and technological progress."

Reviving the University Performance Evaluation Center

Regarding how the university’s activities and units' performances are evaluated, Prof. Omid said: "In the past, one of the university units used to evaluate the university’s performance, but it was closed. This center has now been reactivated and its responsible person will soon be appointed. This center will review and evaluate all aspects of the university’s activities. We must conduct serious performance evaluations continuously. Such evaluations help us adjust the path and achieve our goals more quickly and better."

Development Plan of the University and Its Fate

In response to a question about the status of the university development plan, Prof. Omid said: "Nearly 30 years have passed since this plan started. It was supposed to be implemented quickly, but government changes and the opposition of the subsequent government have involved the university and the people until today. One of our major programs in this period is to finalize this plan and the process has already begun. This plan involves establishing research and technology units, including some units of technology companies in the university's science and technology park, and we are rapidly reviewing and acting on it. Surely, we will take serious and immediate action to clarify this plan."

Creating Strategic and Important Technology Towers in the Development Plan

The President of the University of Tehran added: "In the university development plan, several technology and innovation towers are being constructed, one of which will be inaugurated soon, and an ICT technology tower will also be launched soon. These towers and several important technology buildings will change the appearance of this campus and help realize the technology ecosystem of the region. A large project near North Kargar Street to Edward Brown Street is also underway in collaboration with one of the country’s major organizations, which will change the area's population, environment, and appearance, and we hope the agreements will be finalized soon. This is one of the important strategic activities that have started with major national agencies."

Dormitory Conditions Will Improve Significantly

Responding to a question about dormitory conditions and married student dormitories, Prof. Omid said: "Currently, due to excessive capacity increases, we have a serious dormitory problem. But I am pleased to announce that the situation will improve significantly. Construction of two new dormitories in the University Campus area is underway and will start soon; hopefully, it will be completed next year and we will inaugurate it in the coming academic year. Another important step, perhaps unprecedented in the country, is building a dormitory and welfare complex for students, which will add accommodation capacity for 5,000 students. This increase in capacity will be through the efforts of philanthropists, who have a prominent and unique role. Another major plan is the large-scale renovation and reconstruction of old dormitories, which is also being carried out through the University of Tehran Supporters Foundation funded by philanthropists. For the first time in the country, dormitories will be renovated with a budget exceeding 100 billion tomans. However, progress is slow due to the need to clear rooms occupied since the war years, but actions have started and God willing, a serious improvement in dormitory and student life will happen."

Night Shift Student Capacity Will Be Limited and Ceased

Regarding the university's policy on night shift (evening) students, Prof. Omid said: "When the night shift enrolment started, it was to improve the university's financial status; however, now the situation has reversed. Night shift students pay several times more than the tuition fees. The rental of each dormitory bed has reached 8 million tomans and other expenses have caused the university to spend several times more than the tuition fees. Therefore, this capacity will first be severely limited and then discontinued, and probably from next year, we will no longer admit night shift students."

Welcoming Migrant Talents

In answer to a question about the statistics of migrating students, Prof. Omid said: "We do not have exact statistics on how many or what percentage of students migrate, but whatever it is, the number is significant.... Of course, migration has both good and bad aspects; if migration is for completing education and returning to the country to serve, it is good because it transfers current knowledge to the country. We also, in alignment with national plans to bring back students and talents, welcome these talents and hope that with improvements in quality of life and study, the trend of migration will slow down and even reverse."

Critique the University Fairly

At the end of the session, Prof. Omid, the president of the University of Tehran, thanked reporters once again and said: "Critique the university fairly; criticism helps reform, and my colleagues and I are always ready to accept sincere critiques from journalists and members of the media. Today, I even used the comments of friends and emphasized the university's cooperation with the media in all areas so that hopefully the pace and quality of activities improve. Therefore, we consider you our true partners for the country's development and showing the scientific achievements of dear Iran, and we are enthusiastically at the service of the esteemed media."