A joint meeting between the University of Guilan and the head of the Russian Cooperation Organization (Rossotrudnichestvo) was held, during which both parties discussed expanding scientific, cultural, and technological collaboration.
Dr. Ali Basti, President of the University of Guilan, outlined the university’s position within Iran’s higher education system and noted: “According to the latest ISC ranking, the University of Guilan is among the top eight comprehensive universities in the country. With over half a century of academic and research activity and approximately 16,000 students across various academic levels, the university is one of the nation’s influential scientific institutions.”
Highlighting the university’s international role, Dr. Basti added: “The University of Guilan serves as the permanent Secretariat of the Association of the State Universities of the Caspian Sea Region Countries, which includes 60 universities from five member states. The next meeting of the Association will be held in October next year, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of its establishment, and we will host this important event. Based on the coordination already carried out, we will also hold a meeting of the science ministers of the member countries concurrently.”
Referring to friendly Iran–Russia relations, Dr. Basti said: “The Russian Language Department at the University of Guilan has long served as a bridge with Russian universities, actively facilitating faculty and student exchanges. We aim to elevate these collaborations to a broader and more sustainable level.” He also noted the activities of the Russkiy Mir Office and the university’s AZFA (Persian Language Training Center) and added: “The University of Guilan is ready to admit Russian students interested in learning the Persian language.”
Turning to technological initiatives, Dr. Basti stated: “The University of Guilan has been selected as one of three universities in Iran to establish a fourth-generation science and technology park. We are interested in benefiting from Russia’s experience and capabilities in this field and are prepared to host Russian technology facilitators in Iran to contribute to the development of such parks.”
In closing, Dr. Basti invited the Russian delegation to actively cooperate in faculty and student exchanges, the implementation of joint projects, and the successful organization of next year’s meeting of the Association of the State Universities of the Caspian Sea Region Countries.
Yevgeny Primakov, head of the Russian Cooperation Organization, said at the meeting, while extending Ramadan greetings: “The organization operates in humanitarian, cultural, and scientific fields, and our goal is to create sustainable foundations for joint cooperation with the University of Guilan. We seek to identify the capacities of both sides and determine the way these collaborations can be translated into practical and effective outcomes.”
Referring to Russia’s scientific and technological strengths, Primakov added: “Russia possesses extensive capacities in modern technologies, advanced agriculture, food industries, physical education, research laboratories, scientific research, aquaculture, and other areas. We are interested in sharing these capabilities with the University of Guilan and establishing bilateral and sustainable cooperation.”
He further emphasized that scientific cooperation between the two countries can lead to the development of joint projects, faculty and student exchanges, and the creation of shared research networks.
