On Wednesday 8th of Shahrivar, 1402 (corresponding to August 30, 2023), the new Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mr. Yousef Esmaeil Zadeh, along with Mr. Abdolmajid Abolghasemi the Cultural Counselor, engaged in a friendly gathering with a group of Iranian students studying in the Philippines at the Cultural Center’s meeting hall. The purpose of this gathering was to know the views of the students and explain how the Embassy and the Cultural Center of the Islamic Republic can contribute in order to improve the conditions of the students and encourage them to engage better in the study of sciences, and transfer these data to our beloved country.

 

In the beginning, the Cultural Counselor who was in charge of hosting this consultation, extended a warm welcome to the esteemed Ambassador and dear students to the Cultural Center and expressed his pleasure and happiness to meet them. In addition, while appreciating the efforts of the parents of the students who have accepted many hardships and sent their loved ones to study outside the borders of Iran, he added to the students that you have come abroad with the hope of a better future and all of you and We must seek to build the future of our beloved country, Iran. He also announced the readiness of Cultural Center to set up cultural exhibitions along with support and help to students who wish to present the culture and art of Iran in their universities and places of study.

 

After the introduction of the students, which was conducted by the students themselves, Mr. Esmaeil Zadeh, the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic, while welcoming them and thanking the Cultural Counselor, said that the current consul of the embassy, Mr. Shaker Nasab, who is present among us, is about to return to the country and naturally, it will reflect your views and opinions to Tehran and I will take steps in this regard as well.

 

He added, “Before traveling to the Philippines, I had a meeting and discussion with the educational authorities and I would like you to raise your needs and be sure that I will be responsive to the best of my ability and if necessary, contact the scientific and educational authorities of the Philippines. I will meet and talk to resolve your solvable problems”. Then each student presented their opinions and views, the most important of which are as follows:

 

• According to the guidelines of the Supreme Leader and the orders of the President of the Islamic Republic, which were presented in the seminar of ambassadors of the Islamic Republic abroad, the authorities are obliged to provide the necessary facilities for the return of students, especially those related to medical fields. This will enable them to come back to the country and fulfill their duties, ensuring that the country does not have to rely on non-Iranians in these fields.

 

• The acceptance of foreign graduates' degrees should not be based on the criteria and validations related to the global rankings of universities, and the scientific credibility of the graduates themselves should be taken into account, because perhaps some graduates of high-ranking universities in the country actually Scientifically, they are at a lower level than foreign graduates, so the students' request is that their degrees be evaluated based on the country's standard and scientific tests.

 

• Willingness of students to serve in underprivileged areas of the country, if permission is issued to participate in the comprehensive exam of the Ministry of Health and succeed in it, so that they can continue their education without mental concerns and with appropriate goals.

 

• The study of some students under the set of medical fields in the Philippines due to the lower cost of education compared to European universities and the approval of significant degrees issued from Philippine universities by European countries and the employment of many Filipinos with the same degrees in European countries and more than 52 academic units in many similar fields according to the units passed by Iranian students of universities inside Iran.

 

After listening to the students' remarks, the Ambassador of our country promised assistance to them, and the Cultural Counselor of the Islamic Republic of Iran also expressed views on the possibility of granting scholarships and exchanging students, and it was decided to present these matters to the higher education officials of our country, and the embassy and the consular department as well. Within their capabilities, meet with the academic authorities of the Philippines to solve the problems of the students.