Graduation Ceremony for TUMS 100 International Graduates,February 01, 2023
According to the Public Relations of the International Vice-chancellor’s report, in this ceremony, which was held on Wednesday, 12th of Bahman 1401 (February 01, 2023) in person and online at Dar al-Funun Hall, Dr. Seyed Farshad Allameh, Vice-Chancellor for Education, Dr. Mahmoud Ghazi Khansari, Director of Graduate Studies, Dr. Mashaullah Torabi, Director of Public Relations, Dr. Seyed Mehdi Rezayat, Vice-Chancellor for International Educational Affairs, Dr. Arman Zargran, Director of International Affairs & Development and a group of officials, deputies and directors of vice-chancellor and international campus and also professors and faculty members of the university were also present.
Tehran University of Medical Sciences seeks to train an expert, committed staff and strengthen the spirit of innovation and creativity in her students.
At the beginning of the ceremony, Dr. Ghanaati congratulated students, their families, and the hard-working professors and faculty members of the university, and said: "We consider this auspicious day to celebrate the graduation of a group of international students of the university with the anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution and the birthday of Hazrat Ali (PBUH)."
The Chancellor of the university added: Hazrat Ali (PBUH) considers knowledge to enlighten the mind and said that “anyone who honors a scientist has undoubtedly honored his Lord”.
Pointing out that the goal of holding this celebration, in addition to creating an unforgettable memory for students, is to express our gratitude for their hard work, he mentioned: "Today, with the cooperation and guidance of the professors and your efforts and perseverance, we have a proud atmosphere and we can think of newer and bolder plans for the future of this great university and international students.
Dr. Ghanaati considered the word "Daneshgah" in Persian to be equivalent to the words "university" in English and "society" in Arabic, which all convey the concept of globalization and added: "in fact, today's advanced universities, as fourth-generation universities, have 4 main missions: educating and training efficient and specialized human resources, fundamental, developmental and applied research, entrepreneurship and drawing the road map of the economic, social and cultural policies of the society.
The Chancellor of the university stated that: “in this direction, we are pursuing the training of specialized and committed staff and not just issuing degrees”, and added: “Based on this, the improvement of the teaching method, the subject of the courses and even the academic fields are given serious attention and we are trying to develop the spirit of innovation and strengthen creativity in students”.
He stated: “This valuable goal requires serious and continuous participation of the professors, staff and students in the process of science production, which will require a safe environment, suitable infrastructure, international partnerships and pragmatic approaches.
Dr. Ghanaati introduced Tehran University of Medical Sciences as the great academic hub of the country, with a brilliant position in the scientific, educational, research, student and cultural fields and stated: “this complex has so far achieved a relatively good slope in scientific and research development during and quantitatively, the number of faculty members and even the physical spaces have expanded significantly”.
The Chancellor of the university pointed out that the graduation ceremony does not mean getting away from the university, friends and professors, but this relationship is a valuable investment, and added: “After graduation, it is expected that what you have gained at the university will be used in the right way. Use and be useful for your community”.
He also addressed the students and said: “Because of the talent and intelligence that God has given to you and the services that you have received during this period, you are responsible and committed, since talent and intelligence are a blessing in nature.
Dr. Ghanaati added: “As your academic father, my advice to all of you, dear ones, is to continuously improve your knowledge and specialized information and do your duties properly and never forget where you studied”.
Honoring the memory of the late professor, Dr. Dariush Kamal Hedayat, who was honored as one of the best professors at the International Alumni Festival last year, he ended his speech by reciting the verse by Saadi Shirazi "The meeting is over and we are approaching to the end of our life, but still we are at the beginning of your description" and wished all the international graduates of the university more and more success.
In the field of medical sciences, graduation has no meaning.
After that, Dr. Ayati, Vice-Chancellor of International Affairs, while welcoming the Chancellor of the University, professors and other officials and congratulating the arrival of the fortunate days of the “Fajr” and the birth of Hazrat Ali (PBUH) and Father's Day, said: I take this opportunity to wish you the bests and congratulations to the scholars who have accomplished this important task in their lives with tireless efforts.
Referring to a hadith of Hazrat Ali (PBUH) who says “there is no action like research and a scientist is someone who does not get tired of acquiring knowledge”, he clarified: “You are students in one of the fields of medical sciences that are concerned with health and human life. It is relevant and it is considered one of the most important and sensitive fields in the whole world. You have endured education and suffering away from your home and family and this is very valuable”.
The international Vice-chancellor of the university added: “According to religious teachings, migrating to study science is one of the greatest things that a human being can do, and the great prophet of Islam also advised to travel to the farthest places in the world to study science”.
Dr. Ayati also congratulated the students intending to study in Iran and Tehran University of Medical Sciences and stated: “Tehran University of Medical Sciences has been operating as the oldest university in the region and the largest center of medical sciences education with a history of 170 years and has always had this advantage of teaching of the best professors in this field. In the meantime, benefits such as having large teaching hospitals cannot be ignored”.
He continued: “Iran has been the cradle of medicine in the world with a history of thousands of years. A thousand years ago, scientists like Ave Sina lived in this region, and his book of medicine was taught in European medical schools for 200 years. You have also studied in the cradle of the oldest civilizations and medicine, which is a matter of congratulations”.
The International Vice-chancellor of the university congratulated the international graduates of the university for using the opportunity of their youth in order to acquire science and knowledge and said: “Youth is an opportunity when a person has enough physical and mental strength to learn a field and profession. This period is quickly passes, but with a correct diagnosis and timely targeting, you have made the best use of these years and studied for your future to be beneficial”.
Dr. Ayati further advised the students to take care of their health, family and community as health activists and added: “Give an advice to your patients to have a healthy lifestyle because maintaining a healthy population and preventing disease is a priority over treatment”.
Emphasizing that in medical sciences, the issue of graduation and leaving university has no meaning, he said: “daily progress of medical sciences calls attention to continuous medical education more than ever. In fact, doctors must be familiar with the most up-to-date knowledge in order to treat their patients”.
The International Vice-Chancellor of the university added: “This complex tried to be a good host for you international students and fulfill the right of hosting, although there were undoubtedly some shortcomings”.
In the final part of his speech, he asked Dr. Allameh, Vice-Chancellor of Education, Dr. Ghazi Khansari, Director of Graduate Studies, and Dr. Porshahidi, Director of Educational Affairs, to support the process of recruiting international students, professors and faculty members, who are active in the field of international education, and appreciated the management of the campus and the hard work and efforts of colleagues for holding this event.
One thousand and 411 international students studied in the university and 529 students graduated
As the next speaker of the ceremony, Dr. Rezayat, Vice-Chancellor of Int’l Educational Affairs, said to the students: "I am very happy and proud of being a witness of the results of years of hard work of you, your families, and dear professors and colleagues from different departments of Tehran University of Medical Sciences on this fortunate day, and I congratulate you international students on this occasion.
Pointing out that the international students are the scientific representatives and ambassadors of Tehran University of Medical Sciences and of course Iran, the Vice-Chancellor of Int’l Educational Affairs said: “you will enter the field of service from tomorrow, you will go through various specialized fields. What is expected from you is not to forget the university where you studied. An environment where you have spent years of your life and know that this university is considered as your home, and there is always the readiness to visit your home under any pretext”.
He then presented a report on the status of international students and graduates of the university and said: “Currently, 1,411 international students are studying in the university”.
The Vice-Chancellor of Int’l Educational Affairs stated that currently the Faculty of Medicine with 797, the Faculty of Dentistry with 251 and the Faculty of Pharmacy with 89 students have the largest number of international students, and said: “in terms of gender, 44.7% are female students and 55.3% are male students”.
Dr. Rezayat clarified: “Only in the new semester (February 2023), about 130 international students have been recruited, and this year, Turkey, Tajikistan, France, and the Netherlands have been added to the total number of countries accepting international students of the university”.
He announced the total number of international graduates of the university as 529 people from 31 countries and stated: “About 30% of these graduates are from the Faculty of Medicine, about 17% from the Faculty of Paramedicine and more than 14% from the Faculty of Health”.
Vice-Chancellor of Int’l Educational Affairs also added: “Today and during this ceremony, we are hosting more than one hundred international graduates of the university in person and online, 11 of them have studied at the Kish Island branch of the international campus”.
Dr. Rezayat also emphasized on the distribution of international students of the university in all faculties, and expressed hope that the number of students in these collections will be increased day by day with the plans made.
Dr Rezayat addressed the students and said: “Be sure that just as we are proud of Iranian graduate students, we are also proud of you and wish you more and more success”.
In this ceremony, a video message from Dr. Ali Arabkheradmand, TUMS former Vice-Chancellor of International Affairs of the university and one of the selected professors of this ceremony, was broadcast to the attendees.
In addition, with the presence of the Chancellor of the university, the International and Educational Vice-Chancellors of the university and Vice-Chancellor of Int’l Educational Affairs, Dr. Arabkheradmand, Dr. Sara Porshahidi, Dr. Khadijah Adabi Bawil Aliaei, Dr. Behdad Gharib, Dr. Ehsan Sekhavati Moghadam, Dr. Mehdi Shafiei Ardestani and Dr. Mahdia Gholami were recognized as the best professors of international students of the university.
Also, Mohammad Saif, Iftikhar Hossein Matu, Nilofar Majid, Fatima Ostad Khalil, Balqis Kabir Saeed, Mohammad Haider Salim, Badr Ahmad Abdullah and Qamar Niaz were also honored as the best international graduates, and Mr. Mehdi Maqsood and Mrs. Sepideh Zamiri, TUMS staff of the international campus were honored and appreciated too.
At the end, after reading the letter of the oath, the graduation cake of the international students was cut in the presence of the Chancellor of the university, students and other administrators and officials present.