UMA and five Iranian universities joined Caucasus University Association

UMA hosted chancellors and delegates from five Iranian universities seeking membership in Caucasus University Association (CUA). CUA president, Prof. Dr. Ramazan Kormaz and its Iran Coordinator, Prof. Dr. Ghadir Golkarian attended the meeting hosted and organized by the University of Mohaghegh Ardabili.

University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, University of Applied Sciences and Technology, Alzahra University, Allameh Tabataba’i University, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, and Ardabil Islamic Azad University’s application for membership in CUA was formally approved in the Board of Governors and formally announced on Saturday, November 28, 2015 in Ardabil.

Associate Prof. Dr. Goudarz Sadeghi Hashjin, the chancellor of the University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, expressed his appreciation of the honorable delegates’ attendance and said that UMA will do what it takes to strike fruitful collaboration between Iranian universities and the CUA.

Prof. Dr. Ramazan Korkmaz and Prof. Dr. Ghadir Golkarian made it clear in seperate addresss of the meeting that the region critically needs academic cooperation to cope with the regional and transregionally imposed challenges. They also outlined expressed their gratitude to UMA for organizing the meeting and hoped that the collaboration would benefit all involved parties.

 Dr. Mohammad Akhbari,  Dr. Ensiyeh Khazali, Dr. Farhad Pourfarzi, Dr. Ali Shamel, chancellors of University of Applied Sciences and Technology, Alzahra University, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, and Ardabil Islamic Azad University respetively, and also Dr. Nader Nematollahi, the Vice-Chancellor for education from  Allameh Tabataba’i University in separate addresses of the meeting introduced their universities, expressed gratitude to Dr. Sadeghi for hosting, and negotiated prioritized areas of cooperation. They all believed that the CUA could be a hub for regionally beneficial joint academic collaboration. On the whole, there was a general consensus that the CUA can help resolve much of the scientific, social, and health challenges in the region. Furthermore, they all declared that they are ready to contribute and take responsibility for the cause of CUA.

Finally, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, University of Applied Sciences and Technology, Alzahra University, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, and Ardabil Islamic Azad University signed Mevlana Protocol with Ardahan University, the central bureau of CUA.

As outlined by Dr. Yousefian, the Director General of UMA’s Chancelloriate Office, the steps to operationalize the agreement are being taken and UMA will most probably host the 4^th Graduate Students Symposium of CUA in May, 2016.