Respected Students and Revered Members of the Faculty,In the year 2006, more than a decade ago, the International Campus of Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS) was established through the collective efforts of a selected group of professors and researchers. The original goal for this establishment was, and continues to be, discovering new international grounds in educational excellence in all fields of medical sciences. My predecessor, as well as my colleagues and I, are committed to constantly pursue our goals and uphold the values with which our international activities commenced. The effects of internationalization trends on various aspects of our lives are unprecedented, and we have decided to lead the university in this highly potential context. 

Due to extremely efficient means of communication and mobility, the world as known more than two centuries ago no longer exists. Instead, we are constantly in touch and engaged with our fellow humans throughout the world, and we are continuously influencing one another in various ways. In teaching and learning, the only reasonable option is to welcome the trend of internationalization and go beyond our national and political borders to expand our horizons. We are now at a stage in which we must ensure our standards are up to par with international criteria. Our students, teachers, and staff are all required to rise to the occasion and help the university succeed in this new age. Moreover, we should ensure that our curricula, welfare services, equipment, facilities etc. are suitably designed and enhanced, as required by international standards.

If we are to prioritize our goals, we would say that we aim to accomplish the following goals:

• Promotion of scientific collaborations between Iranian and international universities;

• Reinforcing exchanges of knowledge between Iranian professors and world scholars;

• Designing joint-degree programs through cooperation with internationalized universities; and,

• Motivate students from all over the world to all levels of medical studies.

TUMS now host students from almost 50 countries from all five continents, and we accept students from all over the world regardless of race, ethnicity, language, nationality, and gender.

I sincerely hope that TUMS continues to provide world-class medical education for years to come, and look forward to seeing you join the TUMS family in the near future.

Ramin Kordi, M.D., Ph.D.

Vice-Chancellor for Global Strategies and International Affairs

Tehran University of Medical Sciences