Payame Noor University

Payame Noor University is more than just a university and should be referred to as an "academic network" whose educational units have spread throughout Iran. The educational method of this university is both in the form of full-time and part-time. The central organization of this university is located in Tehran, and a management center has been created in every Iranian province to coordinate the activities of the university in these provinces.

The History of the Payame Noor University

Payame Noor University was established in 1988 after about almost two years of undergoing the required process and receiving approval. The first group of Payame Noor University students studied in five fields of study in 28 centers. In the following years, the university was able to quickly expand its centers and become one of the pillars of higher education in Iran. Today, this university has established provincial universities in all 31 provinces of Iran, and the number of its centers and units across Iran stands at 460. According to statistics, presently (year 2023), about 344,000 students pursue their higher education under 3500 faculty members of this university.

By moving towards a part-time education system, the university tried to reduce the need for students to be in the classroom by using educational technology, self-learning, and student-oriented textbooks. Payame Noor University has played a special role in expanding higher education in Iran.

Presently, the students of Payame Noor University can pursue their higher education in one of the following 9 academic fields:

1. Literature and Humanities

2. Theology and Islamic Sciences

3. Social Sciences

4. Basic Sciences

5. Educational Sciences and Psychology

6. Agricultural Sciences

7. Engineering

8. Management, Economics, and Accountancy

9. Art and Architecture

Faculties of "Basic Sciences" and "Literature and Humanities" of this university were founded at the same time as the university was established. It is to be noted that not all the above academic fields are imparted in every unit of the university and rather the regional needs and capacities are taken into consideration.

20 research centers have been established at Payame Noor University to cater to the research requirements of students and researchers. This university also publishes 37 research-based journals of which 6 journals are in the English language. By 2023, the total number of research papers published in these journals stood at 8300.

Payame Noor University has established several science and technology parks and growth centers with the aim of supporting researchers. By creating the necessary infrastructure and reducing risk, these centers support small and medium-sized units that are established based on technological ideas and have the ability to be commercialized. In total, 39 knowledge-based companies are operating under the supervision of Payame Noor University. “Entrepreneurship and Innovation Group” administers the activities related to innovation and industry.

A new center called "Innovation, Creative Industries, and Soft Technologies" was founded in the university in 2022, which seeks to create an innovation ecosystem and improve the university’s position in the fields of innovation and entrepreneurship. Interaction between university researchers with different industries and connecting them with research institutes and foreign researchers are other objectives of this center.

International Activities of Payame Noor University

The international activities of Payame Noor University are administered by the “Center of International Affairs”. This center has 17 representatives in different countries and plays a role in accepting non-Iranian students interested in studying in Iran. Organizing international conferences and seminars, concluding memorandums of understanding with universities and centers of higher education outside of Iran, membership in international forums, and defining study opportunities for Iranian and non-Iranian researchers are some of the duties of this center. According to university officials, the number of non-Iranian students pursuing their higher education in the international units of Payame Noor University in 2023 was approximately three thousand.

A Persian Language Center has also been established at Payame Noor University for those foreign students who intend to learn the Persian Language. This center began its activities in the year 2016 and provides educational services to citizens of other countries in addition to non-Persian-speaking students.