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On June 16, 2019, Dr. Ghaleeb Joppie, Deputy Minister in International Affairs of the South African Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, companied by a high ranking delegation from the Ministry and the Embassy of South Africa in Tehran visited Sharif University of Technology. They were welcomed by SUT officials, Dr. Rashtchian, Vice president in Educational Affairs, Dr. Simchi, Dean of International Affairs, Dr. Hormozi-Nezhad, Director of Research and Technology, Dr. Jahed, Director of the Office for International Students, and Dr. Asgari, Professor at the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and the Representative of Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization.

In this meeting, the visitors were briefed on the capabilities and potentials of SUT for mutual cooperation. Areas of common interest between the two parties for scientific collaboration were expressed to be Mining Industry and Nanotechnology. This is going to happen as joint projects between SUT on one hand and South African Mining companies on the other hand. However, the collaboration will not be limited to industrial enterprises and academic programs such as professor and student exchange programs are going to be a part of the future cooperatio.

Sharif University has already hosted delegations from African countries and African Union and currently Sharif researchers are working with South African research institutes on joint research projects, particularly in the field of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology in which Iran ranks first in the Middle-East and 4^th in the World.

International Students of Sharif University of Technology join Iftar gathering hosted by International Affairs’ Office. They talk about their experience as foreign students in Sharif University of Technology, the challenges they face and their concerns. In accordance with SUT policies for Internationalization of Higher Education, attracting 600 students till 2025 is set as a main goal for the university and stablishing proper infrastructure and an improvement in cultural facilities is among Sharif plans to achieve it.

On May 8, Doc. Ing. Josef Trögl, head of the Department of Technical Science visited Sharif University of Technology and had a meeting with Dr. Simchi, Dean of International Affairs at SUT, to discuss the possibility of mutual collaboration between two universities. The cooperation between Sharif and International counterparts of the same or higher world ranking has been for so long one of the Sharif’s policies for Internationalization of Higher Education. The mutual collaborations are pursued in a variety of ways such as professor/ student mobility programs, joint research projects, joint degree programs, and exchange programs. SUT currently cooperates with more than 15 international institutions and universities.

Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem is a public university in the Czech Republic educating students exceeding 10, 000 in 8 faculties of Art and Design, Arts, Education, Environment, Health Studies, Mechanical Engineering, Science and Social & Economic Studies.

The African Union Commissioner for Human Resources, Science, and Technology accompanied with a high ranking delegation from AU visited Sharif University of Technology on March 10, 2019.

A meeting was held between Dr. Sarah Anyang Agbor, Commissioner for Human Resources, Science, and Technology at the AU Commission, Dr. Mahama Ouedraogo, Ag. Director of Human Resources, Science and Technology of the AU, Dr. Kassa Belay, Pan African University Rector, and SUT representatives: Dr. Movahedi, Vice-President of Research and Technology, Dr. Hormozi-Nezhad, Director of Research and Technology, Dr. Simchi, Dean of International Affairs and Dr. Halali, Deputy Director for Research of the Materials Science and Engineering Department.

The two parties discussed possibilities for cooperation. Prof. Agbor emphasized on working on developmental plans in the areas of science and technology as one of the main priorities of AU and hoped for an active and close cooperation with Iranian universities. Expanding educational and research collaboration and using the enormous potentials of Iran and Africa to further the developments were the central matter discussed at the meeting.

The delegation then visited Sharif Technology Service Complex and the Institute for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology and got acquainted with some of the ongoing research and industrial projects.

It is worth mentioning that Sharif University of Technology has already signed an MoU with the Sudanese National Academy of Sciences, and active collaborations with South African universities are currently under way.

Director General of Higher Education, Datin Paduka Ir. Dr. Siti Hamisah Tapsir from the Ministry of Education of Malaysia, in a meeting attended by Dr. Raha BT Abdul Rahim, Director of Excellence Planning Division, Ministry of Education of Malaysia, Dr. Norhamidi Muhamad, Director of Center for Educational Extension, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (The National University of Malaysia) and Dr. Ayoib Che Ahmad, Deputy Vice-chancellor for Research and Innovation, University Utara Malaysia paid a visit to Prof. Simchi, Dean of International Affairs of Sharif University of Technology on March 8, 2019 in Tehran.

The main topics discussed at the meeting were to expand collaborations in research and innovation in the form of professor/ student mobility programs and joint research projects. SUT currently cooperates with more than 15 international institutions and universities through joint degree programs, exchange programs and professor/student mobility programs.

UKM is one of the most prestigious research universities in Malaysia and Southeast Asia offering undergraduate and postgraduate programs in Engineering and Built Environment, Information Science and Technology, Science and Technology, Economics and Management, and etc.

The University Utara Malaysia, also known as a Management University, offers a number of academic programs especially geared towards providing knowledge and intellectual skills in various management areas.

On Sunday, Feb. 17, 2019, a delegation from St. Petersburg University (SPBU), consisting of Prof. Nikolay Kropachev, Rector, Dr. Sergey Andriushin, Vice-Rector for International Affairs, Ms. Mariia Gusarova, Head of the SPBU Rector’s Office, Mr. Ilkhom Mirzoev, and Mr. Alexander Mazirka from the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Tehran visited Sharif University of Technology and had a meeting at the President Office with SUT officials including Prof. Fotuhi, President and Prof. Nayebi, Handler of Sharif’s academic relationship with Russian universities. Also present were Prof. Khalaj from Electrical Engineering, Dr. Jamshidi from the Chemistry Department, and Mr. Soltani from IA office.

The Russian delegation was received after its visit to the Sharif Institute for Nanoscience & Nanotechnology were presented with a brief introduction of Sharif University of Technology by Prof. Fotuhi After answering some of the questions posed by Prof. Kropachev, Prof. Nayebi reviewed the history of the two universities and suggested a couple of suggestions for further improving academic relations between SUT & SPBU, such as allocating funds for Ph.D. sabbaticals, joint research and visiting professors program.

Prof. Kropachev then started by agreeing with the said suggestions and added that St. Petersburg University has valuable resources that can be used for better cooperation, such as a science park that has equipment worth more than $ 300 million and that researchers from both institutions can submit their joint proposals to receive funding for their projects.

After exchanging gifts and taking a group photo, the delegation departed. It is worth mentioning that Sharif has sent a PhD student in chemistry to SPBU and another one from the Department of Aerospace Engineering is on his way to starting his sabbatical.

According to the latest report of Webometrics Ranking of World Universities published by the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), the largest public research body in Spain, Sharif University of Technology is ranked the third among all the Iranian universities and the first of the technical universities.

US News 2019 has given the first place in its ranking list of Iranian technological universities to Sharif University of Technology, the 94^th in Asia.

In the 2019 Round University Ranking (sponsored by the RUR Rating Agency), Sharif University has won the second rank among Iranian universities and first among the country’s engineering and technical institutes. In this ranking system Sharif is the 299^th in the list of top universities of the world.