Statements in Meeting with University Professors on the 28th of Ramadan 1434

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

We thank God Almighty for granting us the opportunity to witness once again this desirable and sweet session that occurs annually - even in the last days of the month of Ramadan. This session is a session of knowledge; it is a session of the university, and the importance of knowledge and the university for the Islamic Republic and the Iranian nation, especially for the current period of our history, is clear to all.

Of course, this session is not for me to express my views and points regarding the university or about knowledge and the scientific community - we will present some points, but that is not the main purpose - my main intention in holding this session is twofold: one is to show respect for the status of university professors. This session is, in fact, a symbolic session; it is meant to demonstrate and express the Islamic Republic's commitment to the status of knowledge, scholars, professors, and universities, which, thanks be to God, is achieved. The second purpose is to hear some of the thoughts that are in the minds of friends and esteemed professors - whether regarding the issues of the country or the issues of the university and scientific matters - which, thanks be to God, is also achieved.

Of course, we receive many reports, I read many reports, and I have numerous meetings - specific meetings with individuals related to the university - but I am certain that what we know about the issues of the country's universities is not all the issues of the universities; and it is better that part of what we do not know is expressed in such a session, in such a gathering, by the voices of academic elites; which, thanks be to God, this goal is also achieved, and has been achieved, and every year it is the same. Of course, time is limited, and we cannot benefit from a larger number of esteemed friends, but even this amount we have utilized is valuable.

Today, the points that gentlemen and ladies expressed were good; they added to our knowledge; both regarding university issues and also in terms of gaining more familiarity with the diverse viewpoints that exist in the university regarding various issues. You observed that in this very session, one of the friends believes that the translation process within the country should be monitored - meaning, in fact, a kind of oversight and supervision over the translation process in the country - while another esteemed individual states that the translator and the translation and publishing apparatus should be given freedom; meaning, in fact, the opposite of the first opinion. Both opinions are valid with a justification and interpretation; that is, one can choose a path and approach that fulfills both the first and the second opinions; however, I am not sure that those two esteemed brothers who expressed these two opinions have a middle ground in mind. Each has an independent opinion and expresses it; this is instructive for us; that is, the existence of different perspectives is personally significant to me. Now, this was just one example that I mentioned; there are many other examples.

I have noted a few points that I would like to present; now, as much as we have time until the call to prayer, I will present what has been noted. The first point is that about ten to twelve years ago, a new and expanding scientific movement began in the country, and this movement has continued and has been on the rise. I see and understand that the movement of knowledge production and the struggle-oriented approach to scientific work and effort in the country, which began about ten to twelve years ago, has not only not stopped but has progressed in depth and expansion. It can be said that this movement has existed in almost all scientific fields - in some less, and in some more - this is what we have been pursuing; this is the scientific struggle that was necessary for the Islamic Republic and for our country.

In these twelve years, the scientific growth of the country has increased sixteenfold compared to the period before these twelve years. These are approximate statistics obtained from reliable sources; this is very important. This expanding scientific movement has led reputable global scientific information bases to state that the growth of scientific progress in Iran is thirteen times the world average. Let us keep these realities in mind; these are very important points; since we hear them often, we repeat them frequently, they have become ordinary for us. This is not part of internal statistics that someone gives a statistic, and another says no, that statistic is not correct; no, these are official global information bases that make this judgment; they are not favorable to us. I do not believe that the dominant global policies would refrain from interfering in scientific centers and similar information bases; if they could, they would deny it; just as they deny many of our advancements; but at the same time, they provide us with this data. These scientific information bases say - which has been published globally and is available to everyone - that if this progress in Iran continues, by 2018, that is, in five years, Iran will hold the fourth scientific rank in the world; this is very significant. That is, after three other countries - the United States, China, and England; those three countries mentioned - the fourth country will be Iran; this is very significant. Of course, I do not want to claim that these statistics are one hundred percent reliable; no, but the method and movement of the universities in the country is currently in this style; a general movement towards progress.

If we compare the current university status of the country with the early days of the revolution - that is, what was inherited from before the revolution and the Pahlavi era - the statistics are even more astonishing. The day the revolution triumphed, we had one hundred and seventy thousand students; today, there are four million four hundred thousand students in the country; that is, about twenty-five times more. At that time, the burden of education was on the shoulders of about five thousand professors, assistant professors, and instructors; today, we have about sixty thousand university teachers; both in universities and in research centers. These are important issues; these are valuable advancements. Of course, I have noted things here that do not need to be stated; some of these you know and have heard, and some do not need to be raised. Highly cited scientific articles - that is, scientific articles published by Iranian researchers that are cited worldwide - are increasing day by day; I have been given detailed statistics on this, but I do not want to emphasize it; however, this is a very important phenomenon. Thus, scientific struggle has occurred in the country.

A question arises here: Now that we observe these scientific advancements in various fields in the country, should we take a breath of relief and sit back? Well, it is clear that the answer is negative; no. We are still behind the front line of knowledge, we are still suffering from chronic backwardness in many of the knowledge areas necessary for life; despite all this progress we have made in some areas of knowledge. Therefore, since we are experiencing backwardness, we must work. Moreover, the caravan of knowledge in the world does not stop; they are moving rapidly. We not only need to maintain our current position, but we must advance; all of this requires effort, it requires struggle. Therefore, our first message to the universities of the country and the scholars of the country and the elites of the country is that do not let this movement fall behind, do not let the scientific movement of the country stop; no obstacle should prevent the universities of the country from growing towards scientific progress.

Our emphasis on knowledge is not merely due to a principled respect for knowledge - which is, of course, an important point; Islam values knowledge intrinsically - but in addition to this intrinsic value, knowledge is power. A nation needs power to live comfortably, to live with dignity, to live with honor. The main factor that gives a nation strength is knowledge. Knowledge can create economic power, it can create political power, it can establish national dignity and honor for a nation in the eyes of the world. A knowledgeable, wise nation that produces knowledge is naturally dignified in the eyes of the international community and humanity. Therefore, knowledge, in addition to its intrinsic dignity and value, also possesses these very important values that create power. Thus, this movement that exists, this momentum that exists, must not be stopped or slowed down in any way.

There is also a point alongside this; we must believe this. Friends have expressed good points regarding the political alignments in the world; these are noteworthy points and are correct, we also believe in them; however, what must be kept in mind is that there exists a hostile front against the Islamic Republic among the powers of the world. Does this hostile and obstinate front against the Islamic Republic include most countries in the world? Absolutely not; does it include most Western countries? Absolutely not; this pertains to a few powerful countries that, for specific reasons, oppose the Islamic Republic and its power and engage in sabotage; one of the sabotages is precisely in the scientific field. Some friends mentioned "scientific diplomacy," "university diplomacy"; I also believe in this and have encouraged it; but be aware that the other side pays particular attention to this point, they plan around this point. They plan around this very point of "scientific diplomacy" and pursue their goals. If work is done with attention, awareness, and insight, we are completely in agreement. They are not satisfied with our scientific progress. Some of the actions you observe today regarding sanctions and similar matters are related to the fact that they do not want the Iranian society to achieve this endogenous power; that scientific power is an endogenous power. Therefore, this progress must continue.

Well, the point that I insist on having in the minds of gentlemen and ladies and esteemed professors is that the "discourse of knowledge and scientific progress" and the "discourse of general progress of the country" - that is, the motivation for the university to participate in the progress of the country - must be preserved in the university; which, of course, exists today, but must be preserved and strengthened. Nothing should interfere with this discourse in the university. There must be insistence on scientific innovation in the university; insistence on placing scientific advancements in the service of the needs of the country, which is one of the fundamental orientations and criteria. After all, capacities are limited - both human capacities and financial and material capacities - it must be ensured that our scientific work serves the needs of the country. We have various needs that the university can respond to, that can fill these gaps. This is also one of our experiences.

During the Sacred Defense, we faced numerous problems, we had countless gaps, these gaps could not be filled; gradually, the universities entered the field, and many of these gaps that we thought we could never fill were filled through the efforts of our universities and the efforts of our professors and our youth and our scholars. We can fill these gaps that exist in economic, cultural, political, and managerial fields; universities can place research topics on their agenda and fill these gaps. Therefore, one of the criteria and regulations must be that scientific work is placed in the service of the needs of the country.

Emphasis on linking university research with industry and commerce; this is something we have repeated for ten to twelve years, we have told the governments, we have told the universities; of course, it has largely been realized, but not completely. This issue is beneficial for universities, for our industry, and also for our commerce, and also for our agriculture.

Emphasis on creating constructive competition in innovation. A strong, constructive, and serious competition must be established in the country for scientific innovations, and as a result, technological innovations. Competition among the universities of the country, competition among professors, competition among elites must be created. Higher education institutions should plan to create this competition among the top universities. Suppose in technical sciences - engineering, there are several top universities, in humanities the same, and in various fields and domains of sciences. They should create competition among different universities and grant points to the universities.

Of course, the point made regarding the unequal treatment of top and strong universities and weak universities, which was mentioned here, we do not reject; in our view, this point is conditionally correct; where there are greater capacities, naturally, there should be more attention and focus there. Therefore, everyone must be vigilant - both professors, managers, and influential figures in the universities - to ensure that the university atmosphere does not shift towards trivial issues; the atmosphere must focus on the main and fundamental issues; the discourse of knowledge and the discourse of scientific progress and the discourse of general progress of the country must continue to prevail in the universities. Of course, there are also enemies here who wish that even the professional issues in universities lean towards political issues and political controversies; this must be avoided. It is not an honor for a university that its fundamental issues are overshadowed by small and less important matters and possibly influenced by political currents. The university atmosphere must be one where knowledge and scholars can have their appropriate existence.

Of course, it is also clear; all friends are aware that this scientific progress and these successes that have occurred in the scientific environment of the country to date are due to the blessings of the Islamic Revolution; this is due to Islam, due to the Revolution. If the active and driving force of the Revolution and religious belief could not influence the situation of the country in general and particularly in the issue of knowledge, certainly the influence of the dominating powers would not allow a country like Iran - which they have set their greedy eyes on - to achieve these advancements in knowledge and gain this self-belief and self-confidence; they would not allow it; just as they do not allow it in other places where they have control and influence. It was this Islamic Revolution that came and broke that atmosphere and dominated the scientific environment. Therefore, we must all consider ourselves indebted and committed to preserving and safeguarding the ideals of the Revolution and the values of the Revolution.

Another point that I have noted here and has been referred to in the statements of friends is the issue of raising quality in universities. Of course, I do not believe that the expansion of quantity is of little value; no, the expansion of quantity in itself is very valuable. The increase in the number of students, the increase in the number of universities, the expansion of scientific centers in the country, the ability of doctors in hospitals in remote cities to perform surgeries that not long ago - in the early days of the revolution, or even before the revolution - were not easily possible even in Tehran, these are not trivial matters; these are commendable. Therefore, let us not deny the quantitative expansion, but let us emphasize that this quantitative expansion must be accompanied by attention to qualitative expansion - depth of quality - this is accepted. First, the qualitative ranking of the universities of the country should be determined; that is, the university management should identify which university or universities fall below the credible quality benchmark; then plan to raise the quality of these universities; this is one of the very necessary tasks and must be done; that is, as an independent issue, the matter of quality must be given attention.

Another point that I have noted and it is good to repeat is this: use the scientific progress in the country to expand and promote the Persian language. The language is very important, dear brothers and sisters! The importance of a country's national language is still not recognized and acknowledged by many. The Persian language must be expanded. The cultural influence of the Persian language in the world must increase day by day. Write in Persian, create Persian vocabulary and terminology. Let us ensure that in the future, those who benefit from the scientific advancements of our country will have to learn the Persian language. It is not an honor for us to say that the scientific language of our country is a foreign language. The Persian language has enough capacity and capability to express the most precise and delicate sciences and knowledge. We have a rich language. Just as some European countries have not allowed English to become their scientific language - like France, like Germany - these countries have preserved their own language as the scientific language in their universities. The issue of language is very important; it truly requires that we take pride in it. One of the endeavors that aware and vigilant governments in the world undertake is to focus on the expansion of their national language in the world. Unfortunately, due to the negligence of many countries, this has not happened; even the native languages, the primary languages of many nations have been completely eradicated or overshadowed. I have suffered from the fact that foreign words were used indiscriminately in the hands and tongues of our people and they took pride in them - as if someone expressing a matter with a foreign expression was considered a point of pride - since before the revolution; unfortunately, this has persisted until today! Many of the wrong traditions before the revolution were eradicated by the revolution; this one, unfortunately, did not disappear! Some seem to take pride in expressing a truth, a title with a foreign word; while there exists a Persian equivalent for that title, they prefer to use Western expressions; then gradually, this has spread to lower levels and among the general public, which is truly distressing. I have examples in mind, but now it is unnecessary to mention them.

One last point - which may be the last point - is that if we are pursuing progress and consider scientific progress a necessary condition for the general progress of the country, we must keep in mind that our notion of progress is not progress based on a Western model. The definitive agenda of the Islamic Republic is to pursue an Iranian-Islamic model of progress. We do not want progress in the way that the West pursued and advanced; Western progress holds no attraction for the aware human of today. The progress of advanced Western countries has not been able to eliminate poverty, has not been able to eliminate discrimination, has not been able to establish justice in society, has not been able to establish human ethics. First, that progress was built on oppression, colonialism, and the plundering of other countries. You see, just now one of the gentlemen spoke about the Portuguese invasion of Iran. Well, it was not just Iran. In this region of East Asia, various places were invaded by the Portuguese, the Dutch. What geographical and historical significance or scientific value does the Netherlands or Portugal or Spain or England have? They seized and compressed this entire vast continent of Asia, the continent of Africa; these were centers of wealth. Look at Nehru's writings in "A Glimpse of World History"; he describes the scientific and technical advancements in India before the arrival of the English. Until I read this matter from an informed perspective like Nehru's - who wrote this at that time - I was not aware of such an issue. A country moves along a reasonable and correct scientific path, then they come, with the help of science and weapons, to seize that country, indiscriminately kill its people, destroy its wealth, and impose themselves on it. They extract wealth from India, invest it in their own country, and create reserves. The English took America with the money they obtained from India. Until the years of American independence, when the English dominated America, the main income of English merchants came from trade that they conducted from India to the shores of America; which later, with the resistance of the American inhabitants - of course not the native inhabitants, but again those English, Spanish, and other immigrants - and the war that took place and then the independence of America, the period of English dominance ended. In any case, they began their civilization on the basis of sucking the blood of nations; then, with various advancements, they neither eliminated oppression in their own countries, nor eliminated discrimination, nor could they bring impoverished societies to self-sufficiency; you see today what the economic situation is in these countries, what the social situation is, what the moral situation is; this moral decay, this moral quagmire in the West. The progress of Western civilization is such a progress with these characteristics; we absolutely do not accept this. We are pursuing our own desirable and ideal model, which is an Islamic and Iranian model; it derives from the guidance of Islam and draws on Iranian needs and traditions; an independent model. Of course, today researchers and experts are making great efforts to formulate this model.

I think the time is up; while the notes I have made are not finished, and like many of the esteemed brothers and sisters who expressed their thoughts here and due to the limited time, left their words unfinished, I too must leave some of my remarks for the future, God willing, if I have life, to see you in other sessions in universities and in other meetings and to present some of my remarks to you.

O Lord! Bestow Your blessings upon our academic community in this month. O Lord! Do not deprive the eager hearts in this month of Your endless mercy. O Lord! If You have not forgiven us until these last days of the blessed month of Ramadan, forgive us in this remaining opportunity. O Lord! Grant success to the Iranian nation in all arenas, in all aspects of life; grant victory to this great nation over its enemies. O Lord! Enable the sincere intentions and loving hearts of the Iranian nation, who are passionate about truth, to achieve their great and ideal aspirations. O Lord! Be pleased with the pure spirit of our great Imam and the sacred souls of our dear martyrs, and include us in the answered prayers of Imam al-Mahdi (peace be upon him and may God hasten his reappearance) and make the sacred heart of the Guardian of the Age pleased and satisfied with us.

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