Experience of an Educational Journey

Iran, Sweden, UK

Ramesh VahidiNorthumbria University

22 April 2009

BackgroundParticipated Universities

University Established students Disciplines Research Centres

Iran University of Science and Technology

80 y.37 Uni.

Bsc: 6623Msc: 3995PhD: 669

13 13

Iran Open University- Half a Bachelor’s

Sharif University of Technology

(b. rev.: Aryamehr) 43 y. 8000 16 10

University of Working Life!

Chalmers University of Technology 180 y. 10000 16 6

Northumbria University

40 y.16 Uni.

22,825 Undergrad.6,805 Post.

9 schools ~ 14

Higher Education System In Iran 1

“89.4% of Iran's population aged 15 and over can read and write. A significant

majority of this population is at or approaching higher education”

Based on NATIONAL Exams at any level

Public and Private Universities

Bachelor’s 4-5 years, Master’s: 2-3 years, PhD 5 years (2 years taught-

Comprehensive Exam- 3 years research/ Master‘s is a must)

Highly theory oriented (Engineering BSc Two half summers in a factory, … + lab

and workshops4/ Exam based Assessments (not multiple choice of course!)

Student- Teachers Relation Formal, Hierarchy, Possible to work on projects

Teachers cannot come from practice/ teach a course if they have PhD or teach in

different discipline (general rule)

Higher Education System In Iran 2

Disciplines Breakdown:

25.5 % engineering branches

24.2 % medical and health field of study

13.4 % pedagogic and teachers' training

8.2 % literature, humanities and academic theology

Large number of Female students

Debates over ranking:

Authority: "Iran is third in Science and Technology in Asia after Japan and Turkey”

Top of the world in brain drain nearly 150,000 yearly significant number into the

competitive elite grad. schools of Europe and the US

Passing the national exam with high scores or graduating from some Unis (Sharif)

Chairman of Electrical Engineering of Stanford University: Without a doubt the finest

University in the world preparing undergraduate Electrical Engineers is Iran’s Sharif

University. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s957W6jomBc

Educational Systems Comparison

Factors Iran UK Sweden

Theory Oriented High Medium Low

Practice Oriented Low High Very High

Teacher-Student Relationship Formal Semi Formal Informal

Supportive Information/ Info.

Clarity Low/ Medium Very High/ High

Low/ Confusing, Not easily accessible

TeacherStudent Expectation (usually)

High ~ Medium Low

Library Systems and ServicesFactors Iran UK Sweden

Library-IT Facilities’ Integration

Separated Fully integrated + Separate IT

Facilities

Physically integrated

Physical Library Central + Departmental

Each Campus Each Campus

IT Facilities Low Excellent Medium

Library Service Information/

Training

(data not available)

Excellent, Available (data not available)

Accessibility (Hours)

Working Hours Almost Always! Week 8pmWeekend 2 hours

Number of Loans/ Length of Loan

~ 5 / 10 – 14 days

15 /At least 4 weeks

~ 10 /2 weeks

Online Extension / Automatic Borrowing

(data not available)

Both possible Not available/ Borrowing?

Library Sources

Factors Iran UK Sweden

Usual Number of a Books’ Copies

Limited,Large number in

English

Depends on Book Medium to High

Limited, Some only in Swedish

Masters English

Updated Books Yearly Updates Updated (medium)? Regular System?

Limited

Journals Excellent Limited/ Never Used Limited

E- book Collections

No Info. Limited, Hard to Search

Excellent

E- journals Popular databases available

Good Excellent

Thesis Easy access – No Loan

Not Easy to Find - No Loan

Easy Access – Loan Possible

THANKS for

your attention!