A Brief History of the University

UMA was initially established as Ardabil Junior College of Agriculture in 1978 with enrollment of 30 students pursuing associate degree in Agriculture and by changing the name to Ardabil Junior College of Agriculture, the institute underwent comprehensive structural and organizational changes within a relatively short period of time.

In 1991, the Ardabil Junior College of Agriculture was separated from the University of Tabriz and qualified into an autonomous Center for High Education. Later, in 1996, it was further qualified to UMA.

Subsequent licensure from the Council for Expansion of Higher Education provided the chance for establishing Faculty of Science, Faculty of Agriculture & Natural Resources, Faculty of Engineering, and Faculty of Literature and Humanities in Ardabil and Namin, as well as the Junior College of Agriculture in Moghan.

Currently, UMA with 420 faculty members, more than 400 staff members, more than 13000 domestic students, 13500 international students, 9 faculties, 3 research centers, 3 research institutes, 11 research cores, 24 scientific-research journals, and one center for innovation and development of technology units, foreign and Persian Language academy, health and wellness center, Azerbaijan cultural research center, central laboratory and Ardabil Science History Museum has activities in four cities of Ardabil, Namin, Parsabad and Meshgin Shahr to expand the scientific, educational, research, technological and cultural activities in our beloved country.

There are 315 fields of study approved by the University's Extension Council of High Education including 69 PhD, 166 Master, 77 Bachelor, and 3 Associate programs.

The research institutes including Water Management, Health and Safety of Agricultural Production Research Center, and Water Engineering and Mineral Waters Research Center and the research centers containing Health Promotion Research Center, Energy Management and Medicinal Plants Biotechnology Research Center. For expanding the need-based research, the establishment of research institutes, research centers and research cores was undertaken in the years 2024-2025.

The chancellors of UMA to date who have taken the great strides to build the university beside the faculty members and the staff:

1.  Prof. Dr. Noori Ghonbalani, Ghadir (March 1991- February 1993) 

2.  Dr. Mostaghim,  Reza (February 1993- July 1996)

3.  Dr. Mirshokraei, Seyyed Ahmad (July 1996-August 1997)

4.  Dr. Ghassemi- Golezani, Kazem  (August 1997- July 2004)

5.  Dr. Habibi Yengjeh,  Aziz (July 2004 - February 2009)

6.  Dr. Ganji, Masoud (February 2009-April 2014)

7.  Dr. Sadeghi Hashjin, Goudarz  (April 2014- continues)