Statements of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution in a Meeting with University Professors and Faculty Members

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Dear brothers and sisters, esteemed professors, and members of the academic boards of universities, welcome.

The main purpose of this meeting - which we have held annually for several years - is twofold; although other objectives may also arise alongside these two. The first of these two objectives is to express respect for the status of professors and the scientific personalities of the country. We wanted to use this gathering, this relatively broad opportunity of several hours that is held here every year, and the platform that esteemed professors find to express their opinions in a public and widespread forum - which will be broadcast - to declare and demonstrate our esteem for the esteemed professors. This, in our view, is an important goal. If we honor the scholar, knowledge will be honored, and if knowledge is honored, it will grow and spread; and we need this for the future of our country.

The second goal is that in a friendly and cordial meeting, free from the formalities of seminars and the constraints that usually exist, a group of distinguished and knowledgeable individuals in the affairs of universities and science in the country can raise the most important issues facing universities here; of course, issues related to the scientific aspects of universities and those matters that are more relevant to professors, so that the atmosphere of this meeting and the mindset of the scientific authorities of the country, and consequently the public atmosphere of the country, become familiar with the most important issues of universities and their needs and the future outlooks that can be considered in this regard. Every year that we have held this meeting, I personally have benefited from the statements of those who spoke here; good points have become clear to me, and as a result, appropriate and good actions have also been taken. Do not doubt that in the past ten to twelve years, we have been experiencing a new movement in the field of scientific advancement, growth of science, research growth, and various innovations in our country; although this movement began at the outset of the revolution, it has seen greater and better growth in recent years; however, these are still very initial steps. Therefore, we still need your opinions, suggestions, and insights for the advancement of science in the country. In this meeting, part of this need, God willing, will be fulfilled.

Now I am ready. The goal is not my statements; I would prefer to be more of a listener in this meeting. If time remains at the end, I will say a few sentences; however, I mainly prefer to listen in this meeting.

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The topics we heard were, in my opinion, useful and varied; some friends may not agree with some of these points, but raising these topics in this meeting was certainly beneficial; it opens our minds and the minds of the authorities and stakeholders to various aspects and horizons regarding university issues. What I will briefly mention in this short time are two or three points and notes:

One is that when we want to talk about the current needs of the university community and the academic environment, we can speak from two perspectives, with two languages; one language is encouraging and motivating, and the other language is discouraging and disheartening. My request is that esteemed professors and respected authorities everywhere - in the classroom, in academic gatherings, and in reporting - use the first language, not the second. Our speed of progress in recent years - according to the statistics I have and have been provided - is at the first level in the world. I have not checked recently; however, I saw this statistic about a month and a half ago; it is a calculated and accurate statistic. The speed of our scientific progress in the world is at the first level, not just at the regional level. However, the actual situation we find ourselves in is not very satisfactory. Both of these realities must be seen together. Both are true; we currently have many deficiencies, and the position we are in is not one that satisfies us as an Iranian and Muslim element with a long-term vision towards distant horizons, and at the same time, the movement we have made has been a very good and rapid one; we must not let this momentum decrease. Of course, we must increase it even more.

About a year and a half ago, in a scientific gathering - similar to this group of yours, which included young people, students, and distinguished individuals - I said my expectation is that in fifty years (I am not saying ten or fifteen years) we will be at the forefront of scientific discourse in the world; that is, we will determine the boundaries of knowledge. The work should reach a point where our language - which is Persian - becomes the language of science in the world. This is the horizon that is before my eyes. To reach this point, first, we must believe that it is possible. If you, who are professors, that student over there, and that third person who is a manager and at the head of the organization do not believe that this is feasible, know that we will certainly not reach it. We must believe.

My point is this: I say the grounds for this belief exist. First, our Iranian talent in the field of science has been proven in the world; this has been researched and studied in various ways, and in my view, it is certain. In the most advanced universities in the world, the Iranian element is above the average talents that have been in that university; that is, the average talent of Iranians is higher than the global average talent. The natural conditions of our country also indicate this. We are located in a good place in the world, we have a good population, we are situated in a good geographical area, and with the ratio we have in terms of population and geographical area compared to all humanity and the entire world, our resources are high, and we are not a poor country. I have mentioned these statistics in my public speeches before, and they have been broadcast; I do not want to repeat them. We have about one percent of the world's population and one percent of the land area of the Earth; then our reserves in the most important elements that constitute and advance the current civilization of the world - namely steel, copper, and several other elements - are more than one percent; three percent, four percent, five percent; when we reach oil or gas, we suddenly observe a leap in growth. There is human talent, there is natural talent, and there is experience in functioning. We see that wherever we have made efforts, worked hard, and shown some attention, we have progressed. Now, Mr. Dr. Marandi has expressed the pains, sorrows, and concerns of the first three or four years of the revolution regarding the shortage of doctors, university professors, and educational space in universities and education; it is a story that reflects what we went through when observing these shortages! For heart surgery, seven or eight years were required in this country. If someone wanted to have heart surgery, to replace a valve or perform a graft, they had to wait eight years! This was twenty years ago. Many also died. Today, when we look back at that past, we see that the movement of the country in these areas has been an unimaginable one; the movement has been very good. We have worked, and we are seeing the results. This Royan Institute - which Mr. Dr. Gourani reported on - and the story of stem cells that they were able to achieve with limited resources and the progress they have made in this area, and in this seminar that was held here two years ago where scientists from around the world came and were interviewed and expressed their astonishment; these are stories that truly deserve to be seen as sources of pride before our eyes. We have personalities such as the late Dr. Kazemi Ashtiani - who now I am limited in naming this pure-hearted, devoted, capable, and truly revolutionary and faithful manager - and there are many like him in the country who are working in various sectors and have done good work. The condition of our universities today is not comparable to twenty or twenty-five years ago; our advancements are very good.

Of course, I want to make a reference to the statistics we mentioned that require analysis and what Mr. Dr. Malekzadeh said. See, these criteria and standards, and scoring elements for a university to score or not, are not all scientific elements; sometimes there are elements that you do not accept at all; I do not want to specify now. I have seen these scoring elements for a university to score in global statistics; some of these you do not accept. If during the ministry of Mr. Dr. Malekzadeh or Mr. Dr. Marandi or Mr. Dr. Fadhil or others, these criteria were to be implemented, those ministers themselves would not have accepted them with our Islamic and Iranian culture. Some of it is, of course, scientific issues. There is no doubt that we are at the beginning of our work; I said at the beginning, we are taking initial steps. We must take these steps consecutively, we must move forward, and we must believe that "we can." My point is this. You, with this belief and this perspective accompanied by acknowledgment and acceptance of the capabilities of our faithful youth and the progress they have made, can enumerate the deficiencies one by one; there is no problem. This will encourage us to reduce these deficiencies and progress day by day. The youth who hears this from you will also be encouraged to move forward, and the desire and hope for progress in their hearts will grow; contrary to having a negative perspective, a discouraging perspective, which I do not accept.

The second point, and in my opinion, the essential point; you gentlemen and ladies who are here are a selection and sample of the professors of the country. What our professors should prioritize for the advancement of science is, first of all, "scientific courage" in all areas; both in the humanities and in the experimental sciences, as well as in fields close to practice and technology, and in basic sciences. They should pursue theories, produce, create, innovate, and critique; they should not follow blindly and imitative. Our problem in the past has always been that in various fields - in all scientific areas - we looked with closed eyes and imitative to see what the Westerners say. It is true that the Westerners have been at least two centuries, two and a half centuries ahead of us in scientific movement and have reached very strange and unbelievable areas; there is no doubt about that. We have lagged behind; with all our past glories, due to laziness and poor policies; there is no doubt about that. However, I have said before, we do not feel ashamed of being students of someone who knows; but we say we should not think that we must always remain students. The meaning of this imitative perspective is: we must always remain students. Innovation is necessary. Personal self-confidence and national self-confidence in our professors is a necessity. First, our professors should personally have self-confidence and engage in scientific work. They should rely on their scientific work and take pride in it. Secondly, they should have national self-confidence. They should trust the capabilities and abilities of this nation. If this meaning exists in a professor, it will overflow into the classroom, in the classroom, in the transfer to students, and will have its educational impact. And thirdly, hard work; we have suffered a blow from our laziness and lack of effort in various sectors and levels. We must work and not tire from work. Therefore, innovation and creativity, scientific courage, personal and national self-confidence, and concentrated and abundant work are the remedies for our scientific advancement. The audience for this is also university professors.

The third point is that - this may be a continuation of the previous point - I have raised the issue of knowledge production and the scientific movement and breaking scientific boundaries for several years. Today, fortunately, this has become a public demand in student and scientific environments. We see it repeatedly expressed by students and professors. We, with the advancements we have made in various scientific and technological fields - much of which is evident and has been publicized; such as issues related to nuclear energy and so on; much of it has not been publicized; that is, there are truly unfinished works that are in the process of being completed, and we have many in the country - we take pride in these things. And as I said, our perspective is hopeful and as a statement that "we can."

However, one point must be made: the breaking of scientific boundaries and crossing the frontiers of knowledge has not yet become serious in our country. We want our scholars and scientists to find shortcuts; undiscovered paths among the infinite pathways that exist in nature and that humanity must discover one after another. We want to discover the undiscovered paths. The fact that we can produce a certain technological tool, suppose a centrifuge for nuclear work, which others discovered, produced, and utilized years before us, is indeed a significant achievement that our new generations have been able to accomplish without the help of others, and this is a valuable thing; however, I say that in the field of science and technology, the work that human intellect has not yet grasped should be the focus of our efforts and pursuits; this is how we break the front line of science and take a step forward. Then we can claim this; and this is possible. Of course, taking new steps requires traversing the paths that have been walked by others; there is no doubt about that. But we must never deprive our minds of exploration and search for shortcuts. We need this in the country.

One point that was also mentioned in the statements of some friends - they expressed it, and I had noted it here to emphasize - is that we must focus research, which truly and undoubtedly deserves more attention and emphasis, in the country, first of all, based on its needs; that is, we must see what the country truly needs and direct research towards the needs of the country, which was emphasized in the statements of some friends and is completely correct. This requires that we have a database and center where everyone can know what is needed, what has been done, and what is necessary to complete a research project, so that these various pieces can come together. This is also a point related to this point - which some friends also pointed out, and I noted - that we must align the system of granting scientific privileges in universities with these matters. Otherwise, simply publishing an article in an ISI journal or how many articles have been published is not enough; that is, our researcher should not seek to achieve a scientific rank by producing an article that has no benefit for the country and does not fill any of the research gaps of the country. Yes, that person who publishes it in a journal may find it useful or beneficial for someone else and somewhere else; but it is not beneficial for the country. They do this solely to gain a scientific rank. This system must be changed; this is not right. The system of granting scientific privileges and the regulations in this area must be aligned with the question of which research aligns with the needs of the country, and which research completes a chain of research. Sometimes we have a chain in certain areas; the middle links of this chain are missing. Securing these links will be very important. Therefore, targeting scientific research based on the needs of the country and the needs of industry and other vital sectors of the country is essential.

Another issue is the religious education of students. Today, fortunately, at the level of universities in the country, we have many faithful, devoted professors with deep religious beliefs and a sense of national self-confidence. These are the products of the revolutionary era who, fortunately, are serving at universities everywhere with high scientific foundations; this is a source of joy and pride.

The religious education of students should be one of the goals of the university professors' community in the country. Students should be raised to be both religious and possess national beliefs - the same national self-confidence we mentioned. I sometimes hear contrary views from some universities and some classrooms. A professor comes and speaks in such a way about the country that the student becomes ashamed of being Iranian. This is unfair; it is acting against the interests of this youth and against the interests of this generation. The youth must be committed to their national identity and beliefs; in such a way that they take pride in being Iranian and have pride in it. Being Iranian is truly a source of pride; especially an Iranian who today, because of its political positions and international stances, is the most esteemed in the Islamic world. If you go anywhere in the Islamic world today, the Islamic Republic and the Iranian nation are the most esteemed nations in the eyes of the peoples; from the east of the Islamic world to the west of the Islamic world; from Asia to Africa; it is the same everywhere. Well, why should the Iranian youth not be happy with this position they have, in addition to their historical cultural legacies and historical honors, and in addition to the existing talents of the country - both human and natural? Why should we discourage them? Sometimes we observe these things, which of course, the dear brothers and sisters who are here and also the other professors should consider this as part of their duties. Reviving and nurturing the Islamic, religious, and Iranian identity of our youth is one of our most important issues and will greatly assist in the advancement of the country.

Time is up. I am very pleased with today's meeting. I sincerely thank the friends who cooperated and assisted us in benefiting from this assembly, whether you brothers and sisters who attended here, those who spoke, or the friends who managed the meeting. I thank all of them sincerely and hope that God will bestow His blessings and mercy upon you dear brothers and sisters and the environment of science and universities in the country, especially in this month and throughout the year, God willing.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings.