Higher education, which has an ancient past in the dynamic culture and civilization of Iran and Islam reached the peaks of prosperity at the time of the Sassandies with Ardeshir, and Jondi Shapour, from 241 AD onwards. Because of the importance given to medicine and medical education in those days and the ample use of the experiences and scientific achievements of the Greeks, Indians, and Iranians, the above mentioned cities turned into two real centres of ancient higher education.

With the advent of Islam and as a result of its emphasis on justice, from the seventh, eighth, and ninth centuries, scientific centres were expanded and developed within wider and more specialized frameworks, with a backdrop of equal educational opportunities for all. "Maktabs" or schools, congregational mosques, clinics pharmacies, universities, schools of philosophy, and observatories in general and in the big cities of Iran in particular were the most comprehensive ancient higher education centres in that era each displaying their own application of higher education in the Islamic and Iranian society. This expansion continued through the establishment of research centres such as the Maraagheh Observatory, the Zeejeh (Observatory) Ologh-beyk, RobپEfont face="Arial">e Rasheedi, and even roving schools and libraries.

In the modern age, at the time of scientific and the technological advances in the Western World. The Qajar Prime Minister, "Amir Kabir", founded the "Daar _ ul_Fonoon" (House of Techniques) as a modern institution in Iran in 1848. At that time, in addition to sending students abroad and inviting foreign lecturers to Iran, higher education centres were established in the cities of Tabreez and Uroumieh. From 1934 onwards, the universities of Tehran, Mashhad, Isfahan, and Tabreez officially began their academic work. With the establishment of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education 1967 public and private universities and other higher education centres were given a uniform structure in higher education.

After the victory of the Islamic Revolution in 1979, major changes took place in the higher education system and in order to adopt fundamentally new policies and be able to respond to the new norms of the Revolution, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education was changed into the Ministry of Culture and Higher Education.

In the same spirit and in order to establish a revolutionary culture, to create a new educational system in higher education, to set new standards in fundamental and applied research, and to institutionalize the values of the revolutionary society existing within the universities, the "Cultural Revolution Center (Headquarters)" which was later changed into the "High Council of Cultural Revolution" was established by the Late Leader of the Revolution, Imam Khomeini (God bless his soul) and played a most important role in the cultural and educational policy-making of the country. Working under the supervision of the Leader of the country and chairmanship of the President, the council enjoys the membership of the Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Parliament), Head of the Judiciary, Minister of Culture and Higher Education, Minister of Health, Treatment, and Medical Education, Minister of Education, Minister of Islamic Culture and Guidance, Head of the Islamic Republic of IranپEfont face="Arial">s Broadcasting Organization, together with a number of leading scientific and cultural experts.

To assist policy-making in research and to provide support for researchers, the "Scientific Research Council" was established with the First Vice-President acting as its chairperson, the Minister of Culture and Higher Education, acting as the vice-chairperson, and with a number of ministers from the industrial and manufacturing sectors and also outstanding researchers acting as members.

The "Supreme Council on Higher Educational Planning" chaired by the Minister of Culture and Higher Education formulates and adopts all educational programs and regulations with the assistance of university lecturers and makes certain that the universities maintain a satisfactory level of scientific activity.

The "Higher Councils of Higher Educational Expansion" at the Ministry of Culture and Higher Education and the Ministry of Health, Treatment, and Medical Education are responsible for planning and monitoring the establishment and expansion of higher education and research units.

Universities, other higher education and research institutes are administered and managed under the supervision and financial support of "Boards of Trustees" chaired by the Minister of Culture and Higher Education and with the chancellor of the university or director of the research centre acting as the secretary. The university council is responsible for planning the educational and research programs.

Higher education institutes in Iran are divided into two main groups of "government" and "non-government" institutions. Depending on the particular field of study, higher education is organized and supervised by the two independent ministries of "Culture and Higher Education" and "Health, Treatment, and Medical Education". All candidates for the government-run institutes and some of the candidates for the non- governmental institutes enter post-diploma, bachelor's , master's, or doctoral degree courses by taking a nationwide entrance examination held by the "Organization for Educational Evaluation" and after passing the required course units graduate from one of the following groups; Agriculture, Arts, Basic Sciences, Engineering, Humanities, Medicine, Technical Sciences and Veterinary. The selection of applicants for the specialized doctoral level (Ph.D.) is made directly by the universities.

Full-time members of the academic staff at universities and other higher education institutions are employed either on contract or permanent basis. On the whole, the scientific staff are expected to conduct research projects, teach, provide scientific-laboratory services, provide expert and scientific consultations participate in scientific and specialized seminars and conferences, go on sabbatical leave, and take part in various meetings at their institutions.

There are 50 universities affiliated to the Ministry of Culture and Higher Education, 33 affiliated to the Ministry of Health, Treatment, and Medical Education, and government-run universities and other higher education centres affiliated to other ministries are 53.

There are 23 research centres and organizations affiliated to the Ministry of culture and Higher Education and 6 affiliated to the Ministry of Health, Treatment, and Medical Education.

In the government sector, in addition to the universities at the provincial centres and major cities, the "Payaam-e- Noor University" established in 1988 has been actively engaged in enhancing the scientific culture of the country through "distant learning" programs. The aim in establishing this university has been the "implementation of educational programs at the university level through semi-presence and distant learning mechanisms". The university has been able to provide optimum educational facilities for individuals living in deprived and far away regions, housewives, and employees who wish to enhance the level of their knowledge. At present, the university has 130 branches across the country providing services to more than 200,000 students.

According to the 1996-97 statistics, the total number of students studying at government-run universities is about 600,000 out of whom 14.71% study at the post-diploma level, 72.30% at the bachelorپEfont face="Arial">s level, 4.63% at the masterپEfont face="Arial">s level, 6.88% at the medical doctoral level, and 1.48% at the specialized doctoral (Ph.D.) level. In the same year, the total numbers of graduates were 83,385 and the total number of full-time and part-time members of academic staff were 27,650.

To complement higher education goals and objectives and to promote the scientific level of the society, non-profit making and non-government universities have also been established under the supervision of the Ministry of Culture and Higher Education and Ministry of Health, Treatment, and Medical Education. The total number of students studying at various levels at these universities is about 650,000.

In addition to the higher education facilities provided for Iranian students, at present, there are 622 foreign students in the Islamic Republic of Iran. 531 of whom are from Muslim countries studying various subjects at various university levels. The Ministry of Culture and Higher Education is ready to accept more applicants from the Muslim countries in all subjects and at all levels for short and long-term courses.

The Ministry is ready to provide Persian language lecturers, establish Persian Language Seats, and open branches of the Iranian universities in the member countries of the organization of Islamic Conference (OIC).

To giver support ot inventors, innovators and researchers in various branches of science and technology and to encourage school and university students and other talented and creative individuals the Kahrazmi* Festival has been held at the international level in January each year since 1987. A panel of judges selects the most prominent inventors, innovators, and researches who are then granted awards and prizes by the President in a special ceremony. The Ministry of Culture and Higher Education welcomes candidates from all Islamic countries taking part in this festival.

Every year in August, the Islamic Republic of Iran holds an International Scientific Olympiad for university students in theology and Islamic science and culture, Persian language and literature, physics, chemistry, electrical engineering, civil engineering, and mathematics. Outstanding students from the organization of Islamic Conference member countries are invited to take part in this Olympiad in the above-mentioned fields of study.

The Ministry of Culture and Higher Education which is a member of United NationsپEEducation, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO, Third World Network of Scientific Organization (TWNSO, The Third World Academy of Science (TWAS), the Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH), Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS), and is active in South-South cooperation especially among Islamic countries, has the intention to expand all kinds of cooperation with other Islamic Nations.