International Accreditation - Directorate of International Relations

Accreditation and Evaluation of the Extent of Achievement of Internationalization Standards at Tehran University of Medical Sciences

In recent decades, the internationalization of higher education has become one of the most important priorities of universities and academic institutions worldwide. This process not only contributes to improving the quality of education and research, but also provides a basis for the development of scientific, cultural, and social cooperation at the international level. Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), as one of the pioneers of higher education in Iran, has designed and implemented research projects in the field of internationalization with the aim of aligning with global standards and enhancing its position in the international arena.

In this regard, a set of national standards has been developed, and an internal evaluation process is currently being conducted to assess the extent to which the faculties have achieved these standards. The results of this evaluation not only reveal the university’s strengths and weaknesses, but also provide a practical pathway for improving and developing internationalization activities in the future and contribute to enhancing the university’s position at the national and global levels.

Project Overview

To support the accreditation of internationalization, two research projects have been designed and implemented to date:

• First Project: Development of National Standards for Evaluating the Quality of Internationalization in Iranian Universities and Higher Education Institutions. This project was carried out with the support of the International Affairs Office of Tehran University of Medical Sciences and has been completed. The outcome of this project was the development of a set of national standards and the publication of a comprehensive handbook for use by universities and higher education institutions across the country.
• Second Project: Internal Evaluation of the Extent of Achievement of Internationalization Standards at Tehran University of Medical Sciences. This project is currently under implementation. It is being conducted to assess the current status of the faculties, analyze their strengths and weaknesses, and provide practical feedback for improving internationalization processes.

Key Objectives

• Identify the extent to which faculties comply with internationalization standards in the areas of education, research, communications, management, and infrastructure.

• Provide descriptive and analytical feedback to faculties to improve their performance.
• Establish a practical pathway for advancing internationalization at the university level.

Standardization Domains

The standards have been developed and evaluated across seven main domains:

1. Internationalization of Education
2. Internationalization of Communications and Networking
3. Internationalization of Research
4. Internationalization Infrastructure and Culture
5. Internationalization Management
6. Health Tourism and Integration with Clinical Education
7. Quality Assurance and Continuous Improvement

Achievements

• Establishment of a national framework for evaluating the quality of internationalization in Iranian higher education.
• Enhancement of Tehran University of Medical Sciences’ position as a pioneer in developing internationalization standards.
• Providing a foundation for international accreditation and effective participation in global rankings.

Internal evaluation questionnaires for assessing the extent of achievement of institutional internationalization standards at the university have been prepared. For further information, please refer to the Persian page related to this content.

Contact Information

Relevant Officer: Dr. Fatemeh Esmaeili Taheri

Phone: +9821-88912090–3, Ext. 409