Statements in Meeting with University Professors

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

First of all, welcome dear brothers and sisters! You have enlivened this symbolic session with your presence and honored us with the attendance of a group of scholars and scientists from the universities of the country in this Hosseiniyeh.

This session, as I mentioned before - I mentioned it years ago as well - is indeed a symbolic session, and at the same time, it is a working session. It is symbolic in the sense that it demonstrates that the Islamic Republic values science and respects its bearers. We wanted this session to be a manifestation of the Islamic Republic's respect for scholars, scientists, and professors; the reality is indeed the same. We humble ourselves before knowledge; the bearer of knowledge, who possesses this gem, must naturally be respected and humbled before.

It is also a working session in the sense that, in this limited opportunity that arises, individuals from the scientific community, from the university community, come to express the issues that are of greater importance to them, which fortunately happens every year. We also take what friends express here as genuine, expert opinions and expert views into consideration. Some matters must be followed up in our office; well, they are pursued as much as possible. Some must be sent to the relevant centers for these matters, such as the Supreme Cultural Revolution Council or the ministries related to universities, which we send and recommend.

The opinions of friends and gentlemen are respected. Of course, both this year and in previous years, issues regarding the current affairs of the country - whether political or social issues - have also been discussed. Unfortunately, time was limited. Certainly, what friends said regarding current affairs is not everything that exists in the minds of this group; just as not everything that should be said has been said. Well, friends expressed points to the extent of their opportunity and time. In this limited time that I now have, I will present two or three points.

One point is regarding science and universities. First of all, I ask the responsible friends who are present here - the friends from the Supreme Cultural Revolution Council, the secretariat, Dr. Mokhber and the other friends; the friends from the scientific deputy, Dr. Vaez-Zadeh, and also the friends who are in the ministries or the brothers who are from the parliament here - to please take note of the recommendations that these few brothers or sisters expressed regarding university issues or research and these related matters, to record them, follow them up, and reflect on them. We do not say that the issues raised today have not been addressed until now or that they are being raised for the first time. No, it is evident. The comprehensive scientific plan that several friends mentioned here has been raised for several years, has been reviewed in the scientific deputy, and has come to the Supreme Cultural Revolution Council. Of course, nothing approved has been provided to the officials yet; it has only been discussed. Or the comprehensive cultural plan, for example, has been discussed. These are issues that have been raised, have been mentioned. However, when we see a professor, a scholar, a specialist, referring to these issues as a current need, it indicates that the work we have done is still not present in the application and field of action. That is, our work is not yet complete. Friends responsible must pay attention to this point. We decided, we talked, we said; however, the work that needs to be done has not been accomplished. For instance, when we see professors coming and expressing questions about the comprehensive scientific plan of the country or mentioning things that indicate the unavailability of a comprehensive scientific plan, the lack of a comprehensive scientific plan, it is clear that all the efforts we have made regarding the comprehensive scientific plan so far have been half-finished efforts. Well, since several years have passed - it has been three years since this issue was raised - yet nothing is still available to the relevant agencies. The scholars of the country do not know the comprehensive scientific plan of the country. It is evident that we must expedite the work, follow up, and address this issue more seriously.

If these gentlemen here had not even referred to the lack of a comprehensive scientific plan for the country, a look at the overall scientific program in universities indicates the absence of a comprehensive scientific plan. As I gather from reports and informed, expert, academic individuals, the distribution of capabilities in planning various scientific fields is not a fair and correct distribution that aligns with the needs of the country. In some areas, we have significant growth, while in others, no movement is observed! This is wrong. This stems from the lack of a comprehensive scientific plan. It is true that in any field we make progress, it is valuable, and for our country, which has been lagging behind in the scientific caravan for many years during the reign of tyrants, any time we can grasp any of the fruits of science and scientific advancements is valuable; there is no doubt about that; however, if we want the country to achieve a scientific rank in the true sense of the word and for science to be institutionalized in the country, we must create a proper and equitable balance in various scientific fields - both in education and in research - this is one of our needs.

The fact that the next decade - which has begun, meaning this year is its first year - has been declared as the decade of progress and justice, undoubtedly one of its main foundations is science; the expansion of science and the deepening of science in the country. Just as the very announcement of this title - the title of the decade of progress - has been backed by advancements that have been observed in the country scientifically. That is, this hope has arisen that we can achieve significant progress, a rapid movement in scientific fields within a decade that can compensate for some of our backwardness. Therefore, the issue of science is important. Regarding science and research, the major part also relates to research; it pertains to inquiry.

The point that some friends mentioned here is emphasized by me, that research should first be given attention, and secondly, it should focus on the needs of the country. That is, we should genuinely conduct research that is necessary for us. I have repeatedly told friends in the Supreme Cultural Revolution Council, and perhaps I have said it here: we should not base our scientific progress on the publication of articles in ISI journals. We do not know whether what is proposed, encouraged, and respected for the article writer is precisely what our country needs. We ourselves must determine what we write articles about, what we conduct research on. Of course, reflection in global forums is necessary, it is essential; and it will also be reflected. The point is that we should make research subordinate to our own needs.

In this regard, I would like to mention that according to what has been reported to us, among this vast student body of the country, which has about three and a half million students in state, free, Payame Noor, and other universities of the country, about two million of them are students of humanities! This, in a way, causes concern. How much indigenous work, Islamic research do we have in the field of humanities? How many books are ready in the field of humanities? How many distinguished professors who believe in Islamic worldview are there who want to teach sociology, psychology, management, etc.? This is concerning. Many discussions in the humanities are based on philosophies that are materialistic, that consider humans as animals, that deny human responsibility before God Almighty, that lack a spiritual perspective on humans and the world. Well, if we translate these humanities, bring exactly what the Westerners have said and written, and teach it to our youth, we are essentially transferring skepticism and doubt and disbelief in our divine and Islamic foundations and values to the youth in the form of educational frameworks; this is not very desirable. This is one of the issues that must be taken into account; both in governmental bodies like the Ministry of Science, and in the Supreme Cultural Revolution Council, and in any decision-making center that exists here; whether in universities themselves or outside of them. In any case, this is a very important point. Now, this is regarding issues related to universities.

Some friends here said: the current mechanisms of the scientific and cultural institutions of the country do not meet the needs of the country. I want to say from experience that increasing organizations does not help solve problems. If we create another organization, suppose we establish a group of university experts, this organized density of various organizations and governmental and administrative formations to achieve these goals is truly not effective. The existing organizations must be made efficient. For instance, the Ministry of Science should pay attention to its relevant deputies, to the major managements under the relevant deputies, to place educated, efficient, faithful, revolutionary, courageous, and thoughtful individuals in those positions. Or the Supreme Cultural Revolution Council, which I have repeatedly recommended, should facilitate their communication with elites so that this communication can become smooth and they can utilize their opinions. The existing organizations must be strengthened to advance the foundation of science and research in the country.

Now, regarding issues related to universities and science and the advancement of science, the summary of the matter is that in the decade of progress and justice, one of the two or three very important foundations that we must pursue is the foundation of science; in which everyone has a responsibility. Universities also have a responsibility, professors also have a responsibility. The presence of professors in universities during teaching hours, during consultation hours with students, is very important.

The honorable speaker at the beginning of the talk pointed out that the system should make support for university scholars its constant policy; I completely agree with this meaning. That is, genuinely supporting university scholars should be a constant policy. However, it should be noted that university scholars, under the support they receive - whether moral support or material support - should genuinely consider themselves responsible for the student generation, for the future of science in the country, for the reform of the educational system - which certainly needs reform - to strengthen their presence in universities; to place themselves in a position to provide moral and intellectual support to students.

The second point regarding social and political issues is that I do not want to discuss much in this regard. You all have observed that the country was at a certain point in time exposed to a very decisive political test, and as some friends pointed out, the system's and the country's digestive system was able to absorb and overcome the events within itself. I have previously said that the occurrence of such events is not unexpected for us. I mean, if I want to express it more accurately, let’s not say “somewhat”; let’s say “not at all” unexpected. That is, to a large extent, we expect events of this kind for various reasons: the mission we attribute to the system, the mission we attribute to Islam, the meaning we have for the Islamic Republic in our minds, the definition that the Islamic Republic has provided for itself over these thirty years, the intelligence of our people and our youth who have reached experience, the existence of inevitable freedom that, according to Islam, must exist in the country and we believe in it - our belief in freedom is not a tactical issue; it is a real issue. Freedom in the same sense that the Islamic Republic defines it, not in the sense that the Westerners define it, which we consider to be deviation. Where freedom should exist, it does not; where there should be limitations, the constraints are broken and there is freedom! We absolutely do not accept that; we do not get caught up in Western hypocrisy either. We accept freedom in its Islamic meaning, which, of course, includes freedom of expression, freedom of behavior, freedom of thought - these events are not so unexpected. What is important is that a dignified, faithful human being, who believes in the lofty goals of the Islamic Republic, knows what to do in such events; this is important. This is what makes my address to you university scholars obligatory in this specific matter, that I - of course, I will speak briefly, I do not intend to elaborate on this matter - in the few days ago when the student youth were here - the Hosseiniyeh, just as it is now, was a gathering of youth - I told them that we are facing a soft war, a soft struggle from the enemy, which of course the youth themselves also repeatedly said; before I said it, they kept saying it, and they all knew this. What I added was that I said: in this soft war, you student youths are the young officers of this front. We did not say soldiers, because a soldier only waits for orders to go forward; to come back, he comes back. That is, a soldier has no decision-making or will of his own and must act according to whatever the commander says. We did not say either the commanders of the headquarters and large units, because they make the grand designs. The young officer is in the scene; he acts according to orders, but he also sees the scene correctly; he tests the scene with his body and soul. Therefore, these are young officers; this is the role of the student. Truly, young officers have both thought and action, they are present in the scene, they see the situation, and they work within the framework. Well, with this definition, what rank does a university professor have? If in the context of social issues, political issues, the issues of the country, what requires open eyes and sufficient insight, our young student is a young officer, you who are his professor are the higher-ranking young officer; you are the commander who must see the grand issues; correctly identify the enemy; discover the enemy's goals; occasionally peek into the enemy's headquarters, as he himself does not know, and based on that, make a grand design and move in this grand design. In various ranks, high-ranking commanders play these roles.

Well, now, a professor who can play this role is the worthy professor of the current and future Islamic Republic system. The expectation from esteemed professors is this. Guide your youth. I do not mean that you should sit down and introduce political figures like Zayd and Amr to them. No, I am not very in favor of that either. Mentioning Zayd and Amr and Bakr and ... these things do not help solve the problem. Give them analytical power. Give them the ability to work and the enthusiasm to work. How? By giving hope; by instilling hope. Make the atmosphere of the classroom, the atmosphere of the educational environment, an atmosphere of hope; hope for the future. The worst calamity that can befall a generation in a country is despair, hopelessness. The idea that says: what is the use? It is of no use. This spirit of “it is of no use” - despair about the future - is a deadly poison for all activities; whether social and political activities, or even scientific activities, research activities. Those who made great discoveries in the fields of experimental sciences and various knowledge, if they had been hopeless about the results, they certainly would not have reached this point. Hope is that great force that drives a person forward. If our youth are made hopeless about their country, their revolution, their future, their government, their university, their scientific future, their job future, this is very harmful. This is a task that exists in the programs of our enemies and opponents of the system. In my opinion, one of the fundamental tasks is this. Create an environment for students that is lively, hopeful, and moving forward.

Another task that must be carried out in various social, political, and scientific issues is to give students the opportunity to express their opinions. There should be no fear of expressing opinions. These free-thinking forums that we have mentioned must be realized in universities and must be established. If important specialized discussions in political, social, and even ideological and religious fields are raised in healthy environments among capable and powerful discussants, certainly the damages that may arise from dragging these discussions into public and social environments will not occur. When individuals face the general public, not everyone can maintain themselves. Facing the general public causes individuals to experience many deviations, downfalls, and slips that unfortunately we have witnessed. Many of the individuals you see speaking one thing in front of the general public, in their hearts, may not have much belief either. As some say, they get carried away; this is very bad. If in specific environments, free-thinking and free-discussion environments, these issues are raised - specialized issues, ideological issues, challenging issues - certainly fewer damages will occur. Well, this is also regarding this issue.

Regarding spirituality, which some friends raised, I completely agree that the university environment should be a spiritual environment. This security and sense of security that some friends rightly expressed will certainly be achieved through spirituality. We should connect our youth as much as we can with God, with the remembrance of God, with attention to the unseen world, with adherence to the foundations of religion and the laws of religion, and submission to divine laws; the more our youth are committed, more religious, more mindful of God, and feel more need for God and extend their hands of need towards God, their actions, behaviors, and thoughts will be less vulnerable, and society will benefit more from them.

We hope that God Almighty grants you, us, and all believers this success to identify the path that is upon us, recognize it, move forward, and God willing, reach the desired results.

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