According to the university's public relations report, Dr. Rezai Noor, the president of Qom University of Technology, attended the Friday prayer in Qom as the speaker before the sermons.
He referred to December 25th as Research and Technology Day and also mentioned December 27th, the anniversary of Dr. Mofatteh's martyrdom, as the anniversary of the unity of the seminary and the university, stating: The designation of years by the leadership has been ongoing for over three decades and took on a different character since 1999.
He added: In the early years, the designations were predominantly religious and ideological, such as the Year of Imam Khomeini (RA), the Year of Imam Ali (AS), the Year of the Honor and Dignity of Husayn, and the Year of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), but gradually these designations acquired a practical and economic flavor.
The president of Qom University of Technology stated: In the last two decades, the designations of years have often focused on economic issues, particularly emphasizing resilient economy and domestic production. Thus, focusing on resilient economy and domestic production is vital for the country.
He referenced the atrocities committed by the usurping Israeli regime, stating: In recent days, the world has witnessed the most horrific war crimes committed by the vile Zionist regime with American support against the defenseless Palestinian people. During this time, a widespread wave of spontaneous protests by freedom seekers across the world and in universities, including at Columbia University, Harvard, MIT, and Pennsylvania University in the United States, has emerged in response to the limitless crimes of Israel.
He added: In the Western world, in a country that itself is portrayed as the cradle of freedom of speech, a group of members of the U.S. House of Representatives recently sent a letter to the Board of Trustees of Harvard University, MIT, and the University of Pennsylvania to change the policies of these universities to combat "anti-Semitic sentiments" among the students, while simultaneously calling for the dismissal of the presidents of these three prestigious American universities. The presidents of these universities were interrogated for hours in the U.S. Congress and were compelled to respond. Ultimately, under pressure from congressional representatives, the president of the University of Pennsylvania was forced to resign.
Referring to the second step of the Islamic Revolution statement, he said: We can achieve the dignity and advancement of Islamic Iran in all areas through jihadist management. The Supreme Leader, may his blessings be upon him, in the second step of the Islamic Revolution statement, considers self-reliance through science and technology as the driving force behind the country's progress.
Dr. Rezai Noor added: One of the important axes in the second step of the Revolution statement is "science and research." Knowledge is the most obvious means of a nation's dignity and power. The flipside of knowledge is capability. The Western world, due to its knowledge, has been able to create wealth, influence, and power for itself for two hundred years, and despite its impoverishment in moral and ideological foundations, by imposing a Western lifestyle on societies lagging behind in the advance of science, it has seized control of their politics and economies. We do not recommend the misuse of knowledge as the West did, but we strongly insist on the need for our country to cultivate the fountain of knowledge among ourselves.
The president of Qom University of Technology stated: Thank God, the talent for science and research in our nation is above the global average. We have been witnessing a scientific revival in the country for nearly two decades, progressing at an astonishing speed - eleven times the global average growth rate of science. Considering that we hold about one percent of the world's population, approximately two percent of global scientific output comes from our beloved country. He mentioned the activities taking place at Qom University of Technology, saying: Qom University of Technology, as a principled university aligned with the Islamic Revolution, is committed to jihadist science in training devout and dedicated students so that it can fulfill its noble mission.
The president of Qom University of Technology added: Qom University of Technology, which is advancing towards a knowledge-based economy, currently has over 2,000 students and 72 faculty members across 27 engineering and technical disciplines from undergraduate to doctoral levels. This university seeks to facilitate the development of the city of Karimeh Ahl al-Bayt, having achieved the first rank in the employment of undergraduate graduates in 2020, the second rank in the employment of undergraduate graduates, and the ninth rank for master's degree holders in 2021.
He said: Qom University of Technology, in line with the self-sufficiency and self-reliance of students, has a memorandum of cooperation with the Technical and Vocational Organization of the province and has conducted 143 vocational training courses, helping students acquire skills to boost industry by focusing on producing high-quality Iranian products and maintaining the independence of Islamic Iran.
The president of Qom University of Technology stated: The university's achievement of the tenth national rank in providing skills development courses for student capacity building in 2022 is evidence of this. The university's elite and young professors aim to break the technology stagnation through effective connections with the province's industry, addressing industry needs to pave the way for exports.
He added: Qom province, with 108 active mines, accounting for 2 percent of the country's total mines, has also seen exports to 33 prominent countries worth over 128 million and 383 thousand 592 dollars since the beginning of 2023, making it one of the key industrial hubs in the country. With the activities of Qom University of Technology, we can project a brighter future for this province. Two professors from this university have ranked among the top two percent of scientists worldwide due to their production of applied knowledge through their published articles. Practically, the university's professors maintain a strong connection with the province's industry; for example, in terms of faculty members utilizing study opportunities in society and industry, Qom University of Technology ranks third nationally.
He added: Since the onset of the COVID-19 crisis, we have opened the university's growth and innovation center in an attractive environment of approximately 250 square meters, currently housing 16 knowledge-based teams, and we anticipate that the number of these technological cores will reach 20 units by the end of the year, welcoming knowledge-based companies and technological units as well as independent entrepreneurs.
Dr. Rezai Noor discussed the unity of the seminary and the university, stating: The unity of the seminary and the university is rooted in the scientific tradition and historical background of Islam. If today some seminary scholars are interested in attending universities and acquiring new university sciences, it is because many of today's academic sciences historically encompassed significant portions of past religious studies.
He referenced the cultural programs of the university, saying: We consider ourselves one of the few industrial universities in the country where academics have embraced the chador as the superior hijab. This is noted in the entrance exam booklet, and university officials are committed to supervising its proper implementation through proactive methods. Organizing various service tents during the martyrdom of Lady Fatimah Zahra (SA) and Lady Fatimah Masumeh (SA) and Imam Husayn (AS) during the university and in the holy city of Karbala is among these initiatives. Accordingly, the Qom academic tent, hosted by Qom University of Technology, will be held on the eve of the martyrdom of Lady Fatimah Zahra (SA) from the evening of Saturday, December 16 to noon on Sunday, December 17, in the Imam Jawad courtyard of the holy shrine of Lady Masumeh (SA), providing hospitality services and cultural programs.
He added: Organizing innovative initiatives such as the funeral of an unknown martyr, the November 4th ceremony with the invitation of representatives from the Islamic Jihad Movement and Hamas at the university, and various free-thinking platforms at the university are other measures taken for the unity of the seminary and the university.
At the end of his remarks, he said: Although industries in the province seek specialized human resources from us, unfortunately, we are witnessing that we have no workforce to introduce since our admissions and consequently our outputs have decreased. Sadly, in our schools, the mathematics and physics disciplines are diminishing while the focus has shifted to experimental and humanistic fields, which poses a significant danger to the country. The president of Qom University of Technology stated: Excellent and talented university graduates receive very good and attractive wages and benefits in the industrial environment. Qom University of Technology welcomes talented and concerned youths striving for the growth and elevation of the country.
