Islamic Azad University Central Tehran Branch

Coordinates: 35°45′43.64″N 51°20′20.83″E / 35.7621222°N 51.3391194°E

Islamic Azad University, Central Tehran Branch

دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی واحد تهران مرکزی
Seal of the Islamic Azad University
Former names	Islamic Azad University of Tehran[1]
Motto	Persian: آرمان ایرانی برای جهانی‌شدن‎‎
Motto in English	Iranian Aspirations for Globalization
Type	Flagship Private research university
Established	August 1, 1982[2][3]
President	Mehrdad Navabakhsh[4]
Academic staff	1,400 faculty member and 1,820 contracted (Spring 2016) [3]
Administrative staff	936 (Spring 2016)
Students	56,934 (Spring 2016)[3]
Undergraduates	33,331 (Spring 2016)[3]
Postgraduates	21,156 (Spring 2016)[3]
Doctoral students	2,447 (Spring 2016)[3]
Location	Tehran, Iran
Campus	Urban 297,904 m² (total)[5] 156,532 m² (educational)[5] 8,689 m² (sport space)[5] 7,400 m² (laboratories)[5] 5,283 m² (libraries)[5]
Colors	Dark and light Blue[6]
Sports	Futsal, Basketball, Swimming, Volleyball, Chess, Wrestling, Squash, Taekwondo, Karate
Nickname	Tehran Markaz IAUCTB
Affiliations	Islamic Azad University
Website	www.iauctb.ac.ir

The Islamic Azad University, Central Tehran Branch (IAUCTB) (Persian: دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی واحد تهران مرکزی, Formerly known as Islamic Azad University of Tehran) is a major private research university located in Tehran, Iran. It is the flagship campus of the Islamic Azad University system.

The university is the oldest,^[7] the largest^[5] and the top university among all branches of Islamic Azad University academic organization, established in 1982, originally as "Islamic Azad University of Tehran".^[1] The university campuses rest on 297,904 m² of various districts of Tehran.^[5] It offers approximately 445 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in a wide range of disciplines such as Applied Sciences, Engineering, Art and Architecture, Humanities and Social Sciences and Medical Sciences.^[5]

History

Establishment

Islamic Azad University Central Tehran Branch is the very first branch established under the university system which is known as Islamic Azad University, so its history can be traced back to the foundation of the university.^[8]

Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani sought to establish a private university to address the challenges posed during early years of Iranian Revolution -such as Cultural Revolution- and to meet increasing demands of secondary-school graduates for higher education in Iran.^[9] On the sidelines of an Islamic Republican Party conference, Rafsanjani mooted the idea with Abdollah Jasbi, who supported and developed the plan to establish Islamic Azad University.^[8]

On its early days, the university lacked sufficient funds and facilities to operate, sorely opening relying on donations made by people and government.^[8] The initial endowment was about 100,000 Rials.^[10]

Jasbi rented No. 155 building in Forsat Shirazi St., while Nassir Shekarriz and Mahmoud Latifipour – who were in charge as Chancellor and Vice Chancellor respectively – rented the 6th floor of a building located in Enqelab St., Felestin St. in order to hold an entrance exam in 1982.^[8] This university began as the Islamic Azad University of Tehran when it opened the doors to about 200 students, offering six majors in bachelor's degree and two in associate degree.^[11] Soon after, the whole building in Enqelab St. was purchased from Mostazafan Foundation of Islamic Revolution and became the university's first property. (Current Faculty of Arts and Architecture)^[8]

Vision

“Innovative, Entrepreneur, Pioneer in the country’s economic, social and cultural affairs”

Mission

• Growth and development of culture and entrepreneurial knowledge through the utilization of new technologies, educational and research innovations.
• Growth and development of scientific and applied researches to meet the scientific and technological requirements of the nation.
• Training committed, creative and experienced entrepreneurs.

Chancellors

Chancellor	Tenure
Nasir Shekarriz	1982–1998
Majid Monajjemi	1998 (interim)
Karim Zare	1998–2003
Hossein Aghaei	2003 (interim)
Hossein Mojtabazadeh	2003–2005
Ahmad Moradi	2005–2006
Mohammad-Ali Gozashti	2006–2012
Ferdos Hajian	2012–2013
Farhad Hosseinzadeh Lotfi	2013–2015
Mehrdad Navabakhsh	2015—Present

Campus

Niayesh Complex main entrance

Faculty of Arts and Architecture

The university has 15 Faculties:^[12]

IAUCTB Faculties

Faculty	Location
Faculty of Arts	Enghelab St., Felestin St.
Faculty of Applied Sciences	Payambar Azam Complex
Faculty of Foreign Languages
Faculty of Economics and Accounting	Enghelab St., Pich Shemiran
Faculty of Engineering Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning	Niayesh Complex
Faculty of Medical Sciences
Faculty of Law	Enghelab St., Ferdowsi Sq.
Faculty of Literature and Humanities	Valieasr Complex
Faculty of Psychology Faculty of Social Sciences
Faculty of Management	Azadi St., Enghelab Sq.
Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences	Shahrak-e-Gharb
Faculty of Political Sciences	Shahrak-e-Gharb
Faculty of Communication Sciences and Media Studies	Enghelab St., 12 Farvardin St.

the university has 3 main complexes:^[12]

IAUCTB Complexes

Complex	Location
Valieasr	Emam Hossein Square
Payambar Azam	Shahrak-e-Gharb
Niayesh	Punak

Schools and Departments

Programs By Subject:

• Arts & Humanities
• Clinical, Pre-clinical & Health (Medical Sciences)
• Life Sciences
• Social Sciences
• Engineering & Technology
• Physical Sciences

Enrollments

In Academic Year of 2015-2016

Field of Study	Percent
Engineering and Technology	~40%
Humanities	~48%
Art	~8%
Science	~3%
Agriculture and Veterinary	~0%
Medical Science	~1%
Total[13]	100%

Level of study (Degree)	Percent
Associate	2.36%
Bachelor's	56.20%
Master's	37.15%
Ph.D.	4.29%
Total	100%

Faculty of Engineering

• Department of Electrical Engineering

It offers the following programs:

B.S.	M.S.	Ph.D.
Bioelectric	Bioelectric	Bioelectric
Communications	Communications	Communications
Control	Control	Control and System
Electronics	Electronics	Electronics
Power	Power	Power

• Department of Biomedical Engineering

It offers the following programs:

B.S.	M.S.	Ph.D.
Bioelectric (joint program EE Dept)	Bioelectric (joint program EE Dept)	Bioelectric (joint program EE Dept)
Biomechanic	Biomechanic	Biomechanic
Biomaterial	Biomaterial	Biomaterial
	Rehabilitation
	Tissue Engineering

• Department of Computer Engineering

It offers the following programs:

B.S.	M.S.	Ph.D.
Computer Systems Architecture	Computer Systems Architecture	Computer Architecture
Software	Software	Software Systems
Information Technology	Artificial Intelligence	Artificial Intelligence

• Department of Civil Engineering
• Department of Mechanical Engineering
• Department of Chemical Engineering
• Department of Industrial Engineering
• Department of Nuclear Engineering
• Department of Basic Sciences

Faculty of Science

• Department of Mathematics, Computer Science and Statistics

It offers the following programs:

B.S.	M.S.	Ph.D.
Computer Science	Computer Science
Applied Statistics	Applied Statistics
Applied Mathematics	Applied Mathematics	Pure Mathematics

• Department of Biology
• Department of Chemistry
• Department of Physics

Admissions

The university received 35,317 applications for the Fall 2011 undergraduate class, making it the university with the most freshmen applicants among all branches of Islamic Azad University.^[14] In 2013, a total number of 11,789 and 6,061 applications were received for undergraduate and graduate programs respectively.^[10]

Rankings

• Islamic World Science Citation Database

2011: 3rd among Islamic Azad University campuses^[15]

• SCImago rankings

2012: International rank : 231, National rank : 1^[16] (Islamic Azad University)
2013: International rank : 87, National rank : 1^[17] (Islamic Azad University)

People

• 

  Abbas Araghchi, MS (International Relations)

• 

  Abdolhossein Mokhtabad, Dean of Faculty of Arts and Architecture

• 

  Siamak Ansari, BS (Theater)

• 

  Ali Daei, MS (Physical Education)

• 

  Zahra Rahnavard, Faculty of Political Sciences

• 

  Mohammad Abbasi, MS (Management)

• 

  Bahareh Rahnama, BS (Law)

• 

  Sadegh Zibakalam, Faculty of Political Sciences

• 

  Hamid Sourian, BS (Physical Education)

Faculty

Zahra Rahnavard[18] – Iranian Reformist Politician Mohammad-Javad Haghshenas[19] – Iranian Reformist journalist and Political activist Amir Mohebbian[20] – Iranian Conservative Politician Mansour Falamaki[21] – Iranian Science and Culture Hall of Famer in architecture Hassan Riahi[10] – Iranian Science and Culture Hall of Famer in music and composer of National Anthem of the Islamic Republic of Iran Seyyed Bagher Ayatollahzadeh Shirazi[22] – Architect and Iranian Science and Culture Hall of Famer in Heritage site repairs Homayoun Riahi Chaleshtari[23] – Chairman of Zamyad Co. (2008–2009) and board member of Iran Khodro and SAIPA Mostafa Kavakebian, Iranian Reformist Politician and former parliament representative Hossein Allahkaram, Ansar-e Hezbollah activist Ali Akbar Saremi – Architect Karen Khanlari[24] – Representative of Iranian parliament Karim Zareh – Former representative of Iranian parliament Hassan Mohadessi – Sociologist Jahanbakhsh Khanjani[25] – Iranian Reformist Politician Ali Najafi Tavana – Iran Central Bar Association President Jalil Maleki – Iran Central Bar Association Board Member Isa Amini – Iran Central Bar Association Board Member Elaheh Koulaei – Former representative of Iranian parliament Ferdos Hajian – Primary school education expert

Mohammad-Reza Rahimi[26] – Vice President of Iran (2009–2013) Enshallah Rahmati[27] – Journalist and Translator in Philosophy and theosophy Sadegh Zibakalam[28] – Political analyst Effat Shariati – Iranian parliament representative Hamid Sajjadi – United Nations Intergovernmental Committee for Physical Education and Sport Vice-President Mohammad-Hossein Farhangi – Iranian parliament representative Habibollah Sadeghi – Painter Saeid Kharaghani – Iranian Ministry of Energy Deputy for Research & Human Resources (1998–2005) Ali Darabi, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting Deputy Shabnam Gholikhani – Actress and Director Farhad Nazerzadeh Kermani[10] – Iranian Science and Culture Hall of Famer in Arts Ahmad Bakhshayesh[24] – Representative of Iranian parliament Hossein Abolhasan Tanhayi – Sociologist Mostafa Askarian – Pedagogian Mohammad Reza Sadegh – Senior Advisor to President Hassan Rouhani Abdollah Ramezanzadeh[25] – Iranian Reformist Politician, governor of the Kurdistan Province under President Mohammad Khatami Abdolhossein Mokhtabad – Musician, Singer, Member of City Council of Tehran

Alumni

As of June 2010, the university has 176,973 alumni^[5] which makes it the biggest number among all branches of Islamic Azad University.^[29]

Mohammad Abbasi[30] – Iran Minister of Cooperatives (2005–2011) and Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports (2011–2013) Faezeh Hashemi[31] – former representative of Iranian parliament and women rights activist Parvin Ahmadinejad[32] – former member of City Council of Tehran Mohammad-Ali Pourmokhtar[24] – Representative of Iranian parliament Mehdi Davatgari – Representative of Iranian parliament[24] Rajab Rahmani – Representative of Iranian parliament[24] Rahmatollah Norouzi – Representative of Iranian parliament[24] Shabnam Gholikhani – Actress and Director Hanieh Tavassoli – Actress Shahrokh Razmjou – Archaeologist Elnaz Shakerdoust – Actress Kazem Sayahi – Voice actor Behdad Moghadasi – Guitarist Akbar Mohammadi Argi – Football coach Fariba Davoodi Mohajer – Journalist and activist

Abbas Araghchi – Diplomat, Iranian Ambassador to Finland & Japan, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Shoroughi – Writer and Journalist Laleh Eskandari – Actress Bahareh Rahnama – Actress Azita Afrashi – linguist and Institute for Humanities and Cultural Studies fellow Mojtaba Saminejad – blogger and human rights activist Kambiz Hosseini – co-presenter of Parazit Shararh Farnejad – Musician and member of Arian Band Mehrab Ghasemkhani – Screenwriter Hamid Goudarzi – Actor Mahdi Pakdel – Actor Elnaz Shakerdoust – Actress Houman Haji-Abdollahi – Voice actor and IRIB Host Siamak Ansari – Actor Abolfazl Shahi – Artist Arash Dadgar – Theater Actor

Athletics

Several students have won medals in International competitions while studying at the university.^[33]

Medalists at 2010 Asian Games

Name	Sport	Medal
Taleb Nematpour	Wrestling	Gold
Jasem Vishgahi	Karate	Gold
Elaheh Ahmadi	STR3X20	Silver
	AR40 team	Silver
	STR3X20 team	Bronze
Mir-Saeid Marouf	Volleyball	Silver
Farshad Alizadeh	Wrestling	Bronze
Sara Khoshjamal Fekri	Taekwondo	Bronze
Saeideh Maghsoudlou	Kabaddi	Bronze
Fatemeh Momeni		Bronze
Sajjad Anoushiravani	Weightlifting	Bronze
Samad Nikkhah Bahrami	Basketball	Bronze

Medalists at 2012 Summer Olympics

Name	Sport	Medal
Hamid Sourian	Wrestling	Gold
Sajjad Anoushiravani	Weightlifting	Silver

Other notable sportspeople at the university include Ali Daei, Karim Ansarifard, Mohammad Mayeli Kohan, Akbar Mohammadi, Mahmoud Miran and Arash Miresmaeili.^[34]

References

1. "Selected universities and colleges of the world." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2012. Web. 26 Jan. 2012. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/618194/university>.
2. "Historic Calendar". Asnād Periodical Publishing (in Persian) (Islamic Azad University office of documents) 1 (3): 3. 2011.
3. "Phase-1 inauguration of Islamic Azad University Central Tehran Branch's new complex" (in Persian). Aazd News Agency. Spring 2016. Retrieved 2016.
4. "Navabakhsh becomes Chancellor of Central Tehran Branch of Azad University". iau.ac.ir. Retrieved July 5, 2015.
5. "Central Tehran Branch: A Preview" (in Persian). Islamic Azad University Central Tehran Branch. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
6. "Islamic Azad University Logotype usage guidelines" (PDF). Islamic Azad University. Retrieved January 26, 2012.
7. "Jasbi: Azad University to compete with the world's top universities" (in Persian). Iranian Students News Agency. 02-06-2011. Retrieved January 21, 2012. Check date values in: |date= (help)
8. Jofreh, Manouchehr, ed. (2009). Realization of a Dream, The Summit under the shadow of Mount Alborz: A Historic view on establishment, growth and attributes of Islamic Azad University Central Tehran Branch (in Persian). Islamic Azad University office of documents (1st ed.). Tehran: Islamic Azad University Press. pp. 175–183.
9. Ahmad Ashraf, “EDUCATION vii. GENERAL SURVEY OF MODERN EDUCATION,” Encyclopaedia Iranica, Online Edition, December 15, 1997, available at http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/education-vii-general-survey-of-modern-education.
10. "About". Farheekhtegan Newspaper. Retrieved October 4, 2013.
11. "Interview with Dr. Gozashti" (PDF). Farhikhtegan Newspaper (in Persian). August 1, 2009. no. 57, p. 4. Retrieved January 10, 2013.
12. "With universities: Islamic Azad University Central Tehran Branch". Afarinesh (in Persian). December 30, 2009. no. 3497. Retrieved January 26, 2012.
13. "Website of IAUCTB". IAUCTB. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
14. "Names of 400,000 admitters of Islamic Azad University will be announced". Afarinesh (in Persian). July 9, 2011. no. 3917. Retrieved January 26, 2012.
15. http://ur.isc.gov.ir
16. http://www.scimagoir.com/pdf/SIR%20Global%202012%20O.pdf
17. http://www.scimagoir.com/pdf/SIR%20Global%202013%20O.pdf
18. "Cooperation of Rahnavard and Jasbi" (PDF). Iran Newspaper (in Persian). October 1, 2009. no. 6352, y. 11, p. 3. Retrieved January 17, 2012.
19. Mahdavi Asl, Maryam (February 22, 2011). "Endowments of "External Brains" in U.S.". Shargh Newspaper (in Persian). no. 1190, p. 7. Retrieved January 17, 2012.
20. "Amir Mohebbian becomes mournful". Bultan News (in Persian). November 27, 2011. Retrieved February 3, 2012.
21. "Biography: Mohammad-Mansour Falamaki (1934–)" (in Persian). Hamshahri. Retrieved February 4, 2012.
22. • "Biography: Seyyed Bagher Ayatollahzadeh Shirazi (1937–2008)" (in Persian). Hamshahri. Retrieved February 3, 2012.
    • "professor Ayatollahzadeh Shirazi's Biography" (in Persian). Ayatollahzadeh Shirazi's Official Website. Retrieved February 3, 2012.
23. "Head of Shahre Rey Branch: Islamic Azad University has been stepped effective in Science". Afarinesh (in Persian). October 29, 2007. no. 2894. Retrieved February 3, 2012.
24. "Exclusive: Education information of Majlis representatives". Fars News (in Persian). June 25, 2012. Retrieved November 1, 2013.
25. "Special Report: Azad University granting convicts?!". Kayhan Newspaper (in Persian). March 9, 2014. no. 20730, p. 2. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
26. "Vice President Mohammad-Reza Rahimi" (in Persian). Iranian Government Official Website. Retrieved February 3, 2012.
27. "Paraphrasing Philosophy of Islamic arts in Radio Goftegu" (in Persian). Fars News Agency. August 27, 2008. Retrieved February 4, 2012.
28. Nourbakhsh, Mohammad-Reza, ed. (2007). Communal Higher Education: An Interview with Sadegh Zibakalam (PDF). Dialogue with elites (in Persian) 1. Islamic Azad University office of documents (1st ed.). Tehran: Islamic Azad University Press.
29. "Central Tehran Branch of Azad University to train 2,000 industrial practitioners in 2009" (in Persian). Mehr News. September 1, 2008. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
30. "Abbasi becomes the first Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports" (in Persian). Islamic Republic News Agency. August 3, 2011. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
31. "Faezeh Hashemi: I'm not studying in university now" (PDF). Abrar Newspaper (in Persian). November 9, 2011. no. 6586, p. 2. Retrieved January 17, 2012.
32. "How did Ahmadinejad's sister become a faculty member?". Ghanoon Newspaper (in Persian). October 29, 2013. Retrieved November 1, 2013.
33. "Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences" (in Persian). Islamic Azad University Central Tehran Branch. Retrieved January 10, 2013.
34. "Islamic Azad University Central Tehran Branch's elite alumni ceremony were held" (in Persian). Mehr News. December 18, 2006. Retrieved January 21, 2012.

External links

• Official Website
• The Public Relations & Information of IAUCTB
• IEEE Student Branch Of IAUCTB Website
• Sorana automotive design team
• Hayyan Cultural Student society Website
• Computer Engineering Student society of IAUCTB Website