The message of Dr. Hossein Simayi Sarraf, Minister of Science, Research and Technology, on the occasion of the beginning of the new academic year
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
I consider the auspicious coincidence of the month of Mehr with the beginning of the new academic year to be a delightful start, coinciding with the week of the glorious Sacred Defense and the week of unity, which are both filled with blessings. I hope that the spirit of self-sacrifice, freedom, and the great legacy of the Prophet of Mercy and the nurturing teachings of Imam Sadiq (AS) will generate knowledge and spirituality in our country’s academic sphere. This timing presents a valuable opportunity for the higher education community to practice lessons of acceptance, solidarity, and national unity, while remaining steadfast in the ethical and rational principles of our dear Islam.
Undoubtedly, the first condition for the honorable existence of a nation is benefiting from wisdom, knowledge, and a commitment to human ethics. The university, as the driving force behind the train of progress and development in society, not only teaches and conducts research and technology but also awakens curiosity and critical thinking in students. Therefore, universities must prepare students to confront the grand issues of society and to engage in a dignified social life.
The higher education system in the country, with its vast human resources, including professors, staff, and students, has successfully operated in various fields, particularly in the training of specialized and committed human resources. It is hoped that through optimal planning and management, it can also fulfill its "social responsibility" by joining all active forces and social movements to address the country’s issues.
Relying on God’s boundless power and adhering to the Ahlul Bayt (AS), as well as the support and dedication of the esteemed scholars and educated youth of this land, we strive to work more decisively and responsibly towards the establishment of educational justice. We aim to safeguard the rights of academics, uphold the rule of law, expand the space for rational discourse in universities, establish a logic of dialogue and free thought, secure the dignity of academics, maintain independence, promote welfare, create peace, and provide financial and moral support for academics. In this regard, I urge my academic colleagues and dear students to strive with renewed vigor and effort to reach the peaks of excellence and advancement, secure the "strategy of science and technology," and invigorate society.
I congratulate and commend the beginning of the new academic year, the season of growth and the renewed blossoming of the garden of knowledge and awareness, to all esteemed members of the academic board, dear students, and hardworking committed staff of universities and higher education and research institutions across the country. Wishing health and prosperity for each of you, especially for the new students, I emphasize that the direction and outlook of our activities must be based on scientific governance and cultural excellence, qualitative improvement, and skill enhancement of educational, research, technology, and innovation programs so that we can play an effective and efficient role in addressing the challenges facing the system and the country.
I hope that all of us in the academic community can make effective strides toward creating an enthusiastic, healthy, and peaceful academic environment for the future builders of our Islamic homeland, relying on the Almighty God, guided by the wise direction of Imam Khomeini and the Supreme Leader of the Revolution, and seeking solace from the pure spirits of the martyrs, especially the esteemed martyrs in the field of science and academia.
