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The University of Gundi-Shapur to University of Tehran
Historical heritage
Writing about distant history is a very difficult task. One cannot simply attribute a historical issue to a particular nation or country and make it exclusive; especially in the field of science, where the attention of all nations and countries to knowledge and progress is clear and obvious. But when it comes to historical precedent in a subject, it is possible to establish reasons for it based on historical documents and evidence.
In a clear historical horizon, it can be clearly seen that attention to knowledge and establishment of higher education centers in Iran has a very long history. Iranians, as a knowledge-loving nation and interested in science, technology and art, more than 1700 years ago, with the establishment of University of Gundi-Shapur and after that, the establishment of numerous scientific and educational centers, were among the few countries in the world that recognized the place of knowledge and learning and were well known and in all periods of their glorious history, because both before and after Islam, had established numerous centers for scientific education and training at all levels of society in line with the development of knowledge and technology, which are evidenced in the history of the world. So, the beginning of the history of higher education in Iran is a documented story with a lot of historical evidence that can be narrated with confidence.
About 1757
Knowledge in Iran, although even before Gundi-Shapur University was taught in "house-schools" and religious schools in Iranian fire temples and temples, but with the establishment of University of Gundi-Shapur, as the inheritor of the scientific centers of ancient Iran, it entered the main period of its development.
The University of Gundi-Shapur was established in the Sasanian period 1750 years ago, and its greatness was such that today it can be compared with many great universities in the world. The existence of important fields such as medicine, philosophy, mathematics, and theology, as well as the existence of a large hospital as a center for practical medical education, proves that University of Gundi-Shapur was, without a doubt, the most important center of higher education in various fields in ancient times, which gathered a large number of physicians, scientists and philosophers from the most important countries in the world to teach advanced knowledge at high levels.
There are many evidences and documents from the beginning of University of Gundi-Shapur's activity and prosperity, which can be reviewed by referring to the history and realize the unique position of this higher education center. This evidence was so abundant that the UNESCO organization in its 39th general conference in 2017 in Paris correctly recognized 1750th anniversary of the foundation of the University of Gundi-Shapur.
Mutual services of Iran and Islam
The rise of Islam and the expansion of its geographical borders, including the conquest of Iran by Muslims, not only did not reduce the greatness and prosperity of University of Gundi-Shapur, but also the Muslim conquerors realized how important this center of higher education can be in the development of Muslim knowledge and the spread of Islam.
It was like this that after Islam, the city of Gundi-Shapur and its scientific centers were saved from destruction, and the result of that view was that Muslims, based on the heritage of Gundi-Shapur and the scientific and practical experience of its scientists, started to establish important scientific centers in other parts of the Islamic realm. The establishment of important centers of higher education in Islam, such as Bayt al-Hikma, Dar al-elm, and Jamia, which took place from the end of the second to the fifth century of Hijra, was influenced by the spiritual power of Islam and the influence of the spiritual power of Islam and was based on the model of higher education that was experienced in University of Gundi-Shapur.
The development of scientific centers in the Islamic world, continuing the tradition of Iranian-Islamic higher education, gained momentum in the following centuries. The Islam's unparalleled attention to the university and the place of science and technology led to the establishment of numerous scientific schools in various countries and cities that were among the geographical borders of Muslims in the 4th to 7th centuries of Hijri.
From the Nizamiyehs, which were established in Baghdad, Neishabur, Ray to Herat, Amol, and Merv, and from there to Mosul and other cities, and were responsible for the education and training of scholars and high-ranking government scientists, to private and semi-private schools throughout the realm of Islam, such as the school of Ibn Furk, the school of Baihaqiyya, the school of Nasahiya and countless other schools, were witnesses of this rapid scientific development in the Islamic world.
Islam not only did not stop the knowledge of Iranians and their proud scientific history, but also with the positive attitude of the Muslim rulers, it confirmed the position of Iranian knowledge, and the witness of that famous hadith of the Prophet (peace be upon him) who said: "If knowledge is in Pleiades (Soray (, men from the land of Pars will achieve it". This frequent narration, which was narrated from the Prophet of Islam (peace be upon him), clarifies the importance and scientific status of Iranians in the eyes of Muslims.
Unique experiences of Iranians
In the 7th and 8th centuries of Hijri, the growth and development of science in Iran took a new form. The establishment of comprehensive scientific centers, which can be called "scientific districts", was a new experience of gathering knowledge, scientists, and knowledge stakeholders in a specific city and area.
These centers, the most famous of which are " Rab'-e Rashidi", "Maragheh Observatory" and "Shenb Ghazani" in Tabriz, were a kind of scientific, research and technological complexes that performed all scientific and related matters centrally. The astonishing statistics of 6,000 students living in Rab'-e Rashidi and its affiliated centers recorded in history can show how active this center was as one of the scientific centers of that time in Iran.
Rab’-e Rashidi was a university with four faculties where about six thousand students lived and studied, and its surrounding institutions such as a library, high schools, a mosque, a hospital and numerous industrial workshops and even a nursing home had turned it into an important university city. All of its expenses were also financed from the income of endowments that were allocated for this purpose in Iran, Turkey, Rome, Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.
There were many examples similar to "Rab’-e Rashidi" in Iran at that time, which is beyond the scope of this text; But it shows the unique experience of Iranians in establishing comprehensive universities in that era, which have been a place for teaching various sciences for many centuries.
Modern higher education
Modern higher education, concurrent with the 18th century, took a serious form in Iran. The familiarity and attention of Iranians to modern knowledge after the renaissance in the West and the way of teaching and learning that the modern world uses, caused Iranians to test new methods in addition to the traditional way of higher science education. The establishment of Dar al-Funun School around 1850 AD can be considered the first experience of Iranians in the field of modern higher education.
The establishment of other high schools, which were established shortly after Dar al-Funun, such as Dar al-Mualemin Higher School, Higher School of Medicine, Higher School of Falahat, Higher School of Politics and Economics, Higher School of Sepahsalar and the like, was a continuation of this historical experience, which has a tradition of more than 1,700 years, following Iranian higher education in a global method and model and trying to link that glorious background to this new global model so that the transfer of historical heritage in a direct line leads to the establishment of a world-class university.
About eighty years after the establishment of Dar al-Funun, University of Tehran was established in 1934. Universities, which inherited a 1700-year-old historical tradition and had a proud and glorious history, with names among the great scientists of the world.
The establishment of University of Tehran originated from the need to renew methods and styles rather than Iran's need for science and scientific roots.
Iranians had a glorious scientific history before the establishment of University of Tehran in 1934, where a huge part of the knowledge of the western world was obtained through the translation of this same Iranian-Islamic heritage. Because much earlier than this date, the scientific heritage of Gundi-Shapur and the scientific centers of the Islamic world through the translation of the works of Muslim and Iranian scientists in the "Toledo" and "Sicily" and "Salerno" translation centers and the like and later through the direct translation of the works and relations of researchers, translators and scientists were transferred to the western world during about 800 years and built the foundation of science in those countries.
Therefore, the establishment of University of Tehran, which happened after Iranians got to know the countries of the world, was a new approach to the Iranian and Islamic scientific tradition and a move on a path that would open the door for more and better dialogue with the world, and that was the approval of the university establishment law on 29 May, 1934 completed the evolution of higher education in Iran and a new style university was established with six faculties or branches to be a response to the modern world and its changes.
University of Tehran
On the 29 May, 1934, the law of establishment of the University of Tehran was approved in the National Consultative Parliament of Iran.
The idea of establishment of the university in Iran was raised from around 1928 and after that, the detailed plan prepared in 1931 was presented to the Minister of Culture of Iran, which after many discussions and exchange of opinions in many meetings, finally went to the parliament in 1933 and approved in 1934.
Based on this law, the parliament allowed the Ministry of Education to establish an institution called "University" for teaching higher degrees in science and technology, literature and philosophy in Tehran. The branches or disciplines of the university at the time of its establishment were rational and movable sciences, natural and mathematical sciences, literature and philosophy, educational sciences, medicine and its branches and sub-fields, law, political, economic and technical sciences. With this law, the University of Tehran was established on the land of Jalaliyeh Garden (a historical garden in the center of Tehran today) and until its current buildings were used, its classes were temporarily held in the Dar al-Funun school.
The University of Tehran started with a limited number of students, but it had a great and amazing acceleration in its scientific and structural development and progress, so that several years later, the number of students and professors increased by ten times, and by 1947, that is, 13 years later. which was established as the second Iranian university, was the sole trustee of modern higher education for students.
University of Tehran, because of the historical background of higher education and as the first Iranian university in a new form, has been called the symbol of Iran's higher education. This symbol, both in terms of age and in terms of being progressive and comprehensive, has placed this university at the top of all Iranian universities as the top university in Iran.
The size and physical distribution of the University of Tehran, which is located in 35 university units in 10 cities in Iran are active. It has caused about 50 thousand students to study and research in about 200 fields and at three levels of Bachelor, Master and PhD. The global scientific position of this university, which places it at the top of Iranian universities in most of international rankings and among the top 360 universities in the world in QS international ranking in 2024, is another proof of the growth, development, excellence and progress of this university.
1757 Memorial ceremony
The first university in Iran and the world is celebrating its founding anniversary in 2024. The 90th anniversary of University of Tehran is actually the 1757th anniversary of the university tradition in Iran and the world, which with the approval of the Islamic Republic of Iran Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution as the highest decision-making body in education and culture in Iran the brilliant history of 1700 years of higher education in Iran has been attached to University of Tehran.
The commemoration ceremony of this great national and international event will be held on 28 May, 2024 to remember this glorious scientific, educational, research and technological history that Iranians have always added to the golden pages of its honors during more than 17 centuries and if today University of Tehran is the most well-known center of higher education in Iran, it owes to the efforts and diligence of all the scientists who have kept the light of science, wisdom, virtue and knowledge flourishing from University of Gundi-Shapur to University of Tehran.
Hosting scholars and scientists and knowledge lovers is an honor given to University of Tehran on this glorious occasion.
This great event is a celebration of knowledge and virtue; hoping that this university will continue to educate the youth of Iran and the world for thousands of years to come and provide more worthy services to the scientific community of Iran and the world.
