What inspired the establishment of the University of Applied Science and Technology was the idea to provide the basis for the participation of governmental and non-governmental organizations and executive bodies in the training of specialized forces required by various economic, social, and cultural sectors. The other objectives behind the establishment of this center of higher education included planning, organizing, and supporting the expertise required in the macro policy-making in the country.
History of the University of Applied Science and Technology
The proposal for the establishment of this semi-governmental university was approved in 1991 following which many centers of higher education affiliated with were rapidly founded and, presently, their number stands at more than 600 of which 200 centers are in Tehran.
Annual evaluation and redefining the duties and activities of different units of this university are among the major factors that have contributed to the improvement of the quality of education of these centers to a satisfactory level.
At the beginning of the activities of this university, courses were offered in associate, bachelor, master, and doctorate levels, but now, the focus of the university is on associate and bachelor courses only. Technical, management, social sciences, and art professional as well as technological engineering are the main courses at which the students of the University of Applied Science and Technology pursue their higher education at associate and postgraduate levels.
The “Office Short-term Applied Scientific Training” of this university was launched in the year 2020 with the aim of designing and imparting short-term training courses including single-lesson courses and single-module courses, etc.
Educational and Research Activities of the University of Applied Science and Technology
The number of students studying at the University of Applied Science and Technology stands at 220,000, of which 180 thousand students pursue their higher education at the associate degree level and the rest at the postgraduate level. The students of this university are trained in 800 skill fields. University officials claim that it is possible to increase the number of students at this university to 400 thousand people.
According to the officials of this university, more than 300 non-Iranian students had been admitted to the University of Applied Science and Technology in 2023. This university plans to accept a larger number of foreign students interested in studying in Iran by improving the level of its facilities and increasing its capacity for admitting non-Iranian students in its selected units. Until 2023, permission had been issued to admit foreign students in the affiliated centers of higher education in four provinces of Iran. Also, this university plans to set up its centers in some neighboring countries of Iran.
According to the research goals and the mission it has defined to link education with industry and market, the University of Applied Science and Technology has established an office entitled "Innovation, Technology and Commercialization". This office is responsible for attracting researchers, technologists, and entrepreneurs and covers one of the key areas of the university’s activities. Examining and compiling the research findings in the fields of commercialization and communication with industry, taking necessary measures in technology employment offices, and commercialization of new ideas, along with the development of the culture of innovation are some of the objectives of this center.
