Ayatollah A'arafi, in a meeting with the President of Qom University of Technology, while referring to the capacity and potential of the holy city of Qom to have an international status, stated: Today, with the invaluable presence of tens of thousands of foreign students and their families from 120 nationalities in Qom, it is necessary for universities and higher education institutions in Qom to adopt an international approach in attracting foreign students.
In this meeting, Dr. Rezaei Nour, President of Qom University of Technology, highlighted the potential of the university, including motivated young faculty and staff, as well as elite and revolutionary students, noting that addressing industrial and social problems is one of the main goals of this university. He added: Given that the concerns of the officials of this university revolve around entrepreneurship and creating job opportunities for students, specific cultural programs are also of great importance for the academic community of Qom University of Technology. In this regard, we need the help and support of the seminaries.
He continued: Considering that the holy city of Qom is regarded as the religious capital of the country and even the world, we are obliged to have well-defined cultural programs for the country. In this context, Qom University of Technology has taken the lead in implementing a training plan for hijab and chastity educators, which can be realized through a memorandum of understanding between Qom University of Technology and the seminary.
Dr. Rezaei Nour deemed the unity of the seminary and university crucial and stated: In this regard, we are eager to establish a seminary and university office at Qom University of Technology to further utilize the capacities of the seminary in training pious, ethical, and specialized engineers.
A member of the Supreme Cultural Revolution Council added: Given my direct involvement in the Al-Mustafa Society in previous years and my current presence in its board of trustees, as well as my international trips and missions to various countries, I have raised the issue of international activities of Qom universities since those years, but it has never materialized, and none of the higher education institutions present in Qom have taken steps in this regard.
Ayatollah A'arafi continued: Today, with such capacities provided at Qom University of Technology, it is possible to admit foreign students with the approval of the Ministry of Science, and this important event is valuable not only for Qom but also for the educational system of the country.
A member of the Supreme Council of the Seminaries stated: Although the country’s higher education system has not been able to play a satisfactory international role as it should, Qom University of Technology can effectively welcome foreign students and even their families due to the strategic position of the province in the country.
He said: Today, over 10,000 advanced-level students are studying in universities, and around 6,000 students are engaged in acquiring Islamic sciences and teachings in seminaries.
Ayatollah A'arafi emphasized: The higher education institutions of Qom can serve as a true example and model of unity between the seminary and the university, providing a scientific and practical model for the entire country.
A member of the Faculty of Religion in Qom stressed: Since long ago, non-Iranian students in Al-Mustafa Society and Islamic schools have shown interest in industrial education in Qom, yet there has been no inclination from higher education institutions. We are ready to participate and contribute not only in sending students but also in teaching Islamic sciences and teachings as much as possible within the higher education landscape of Qom, especially Qom University of Technology.
The head of the seminaries noted the trajectory of higher education in the post-Islamic Revolution era and stated: Thank God, during these 30-40 years we have gone through, the higher education system of the country has followed a growth path and has brought about scientific transformation, yet there are still gaps.
Ayatollah A'arafi further referred to the concept of an Islamic university and stated: The Islamic university has a document and can be discussed in various dimensions. The Islamic university has gaps in philosophical and theological subjects.
