Submit Professor John Wilson and Dr. Lawrence James Watson, representatives from Accreditation Service for International Colleges (ASIC) paid a landmark visit to schools andfacilities of Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS) on November 20, 2

Professor John Wilson and Dr. Lawrence James Watson, representatives from Accreditation Service for International Colleges (ASIC) met with TUMS Chancellor, Dr. Bagher Larijani, deans of TUMS schools and TUMS Vice-chancellors on November 21, 2012

Welcoming Professor Wilson and Dr. Watson, the two British ASIC inspectors, TUMS Chancellor, Prof. Bagher Larijani expressed his recognition of the inspectors visit to evaluate the University. He reviewed University information including TUMS history, new-established schools and research centers, scientific journals indexed internationally, new programs, new fields of study and progress in national and international ranking.

Finding this two-day visit "very enjoyable", Professor Wilson expressed his gratitude to the Chancellor and all his colleagues who made attempt to make this visit run smoothly. "We have been made very welcomed by everybody we’ve met and I really have enjoyed my short stay here and I look forward to return again in future", Prof. Wilson said. He added that they had visited School of Medicine, School of Public Health and School of Pharmacy and they had the chance to speak with faculty members, students and staff. He apologized that to deans of other schools that were not visited due to time constraints." All of those conversations were very very helpful in helping us arriving at the final report", he added.

Dr. Lawrence Watson noted that they had met many interesting people and they’ve received a warm welcome from everyone."I personally, thoroughly enjoyed my time here. It’s been a stimulating experience. The level of hospitality and friendliness here has been tremendous. Thank you for that. We’re hoping that this process of inspection for accreditation just be one part of relationship between TUMS and ASCI ", Dr. Watson said.

In addition, he mentioned that "The Chancellor used the word that I think best summarizes the University which is ‘dynamic’. There is so much going on; there is so much change; there is so much willingness to change which we do not always find in places we go; and frankly, it surprised me". “You all seem to be prepared, to be courageous enough to undertake changes at very fast pace", he added. “Part of this change is to develop your internationalization and your interaction with students from other countries and we hope the basic accreditation exercise will help the process, will help to accelerate it and we’d be very pleased if that was the outcome," Dr. Watson noted.

He closed his speech by saying that "Certainly, everyone we’ve met at every level, in every capacity, has seemed to want to internationalize the University. So, we look forward to working with you in the future and wish you every success in what you’re trying to achieve."