The Star Students Of The Islamic Republic

I just want to make one thing clear about the PhD entrance exam the author refers to and some of the comments below in regards to Iran only producing students that are good at 'memorizing' theories and not necessarily applying them. I am a PhD student in electrical engineering at one the biggest research universities in the US and our PhD qualifying exam was not solely based on regurgitating fundamental concepts. It was about applying the fundamental concepts we had learned as an undergrad to solve problems that we generally had not seen before. True some of the problems were just basic textbook problems, but we had to solve (either writtien or orally) a variety of problems. Now I imagine at Stanford (one of the best electrical engineering school in the country) would have a similar or more likely a more rigorous exam. Therefore these students from Sharif university are not just answering some questions that they have memorized the answer for. If they are consistently scoring well on these exams we cannot dismiss the fact that they are good engineers/scientists. Now I agree the Iranian culture/teaching style does highly emphasize memorization and that has to change, but these students that are at Iran's top universities are some of the best in the world.

My comment is mostly in line with what hossein83 believes. The competetion through a very tough and highly centralized national exam makes it possible that a group of talents are skimmed through millions of exam participants. My claim is that if you set up the same screening system in Pakistan or somewhere else in similar countries you would identify a similar group of talents choosing a Tehran or Sharif type university without even thinking what Sharif or Tehran universities provide with them. Iranian universities are more like a place in which a group of gifted people with no plan in mind for thier own country has gathered. Their only hope is to find a postgragraduate program in US or Europe to continue (or start over) their education and of course their LIFE. I don't think Sharif or Tehran universities per se are good enough to nurture and prepare our students for a better university along a continuum. They are students themselves who make the difference. ss

My comment is mostly in line with what hossein83 believes. The competetion through a very tough and highly centralized national exam makes it possible that a group of talents are skimmed through millions of exam participants. My claim is that if you set up the same screening system in Pakistan or somewhere else in similar countries you would identify a similar group of talents choosing a Tehran or Sharif type university without even thinking what Sharif or Tehran universities provide with them. Iranian universities are more like a place in which a group of gifted people with no plan in mind for thier own country has gathered. Their only hope is to find a postgragraduate program in US or Europe to continue (or start over) their education and of course their LIFE. I don't think Sharif or Tehran universities per se are good enough to nurture and prepare our students for a better university along a continuum. They are students themselves who make the difference. ss

I cannot agree more with hossein83 that Iran needs its top talents spread equally into non-technical fields as well to produce quality leaders who are equipped with real knowledge and experience as economists, social scientists, financial wiz, city planners, ... The article is not well balanced but it does correctly point out bad government policies and underhanded practices that lead to expulsion of creative people from the country and the so called brain drain phenomenon. I have great regards for someone like AliSharifi who have gone back to pay their dues to the country and their people. But the truth of the matter is that for every one person who goes back, thousands of the best are looking for ways to get out and start a more meaningful life. Who is there to blame other than those in positions of policy making? Do I see a hopeless future for Iran? Absolutely not! Bad policies can be reversed. As we say in Farsi, any time you catch a fish, it is fresh! Iran is full of talents and Iranians no matter where they go they always strive to be the best. One of the positive points of the Islamic Republic has been that it did not close its borders. People are free to come and go. As such Iran has been benefiting from the exchange of ideas. I feel such migrations back and forth and the exchange of ideas will help eventually reform Iran. For example although students in Iran are still giving their top priorities to science and technical fields, the second generation of Iranians abroad seem to have a more balanced approach -- more and more are getting into law, film making, finance, journalism, education, ... With such a big flux of people with all sorts of interests and background going back and forth and with a constant push for more transparency and accountability in government, eventually Iran will move up in the world to find her place among the first class nations. I am sure of that!

Two points:

1. One should distinguish Science form Technology. I think Sharif University (All universities in Iran as a matter of fact) produce very good technicians, which also have a high ability to answer written questions (especially if they have only 4 answers to choose from), which again is a technique. Science is a different story. I doubt any university in Iran being able to produce good scientists and thinkers.

2. I find it very interesting that the article itself and all the below comments come from Iranians! Coincidences? I don't think so. We Iranians LOVE to be praised. And when we are we picture ourselves as the king of the whole world. We'd like to sit and enjoy the moment. Lets face it people, Which does Iran need more today: a high number of entries into top technology schools or Economists, Sociologist and thinkers who can solve the problems we face as a nation?

I am deeply sorry to see the comment made by Soheila about Sharif, and undervalued the role it had in her success! It is true that our students generally are among the best in the country, but always remember that a very fine rice can only be well prepared by a good chef. A bad or normal cook can only ruin the rice no matter how fine it might be. It is true that you were among the ones with exceptional talents, but if you would have ended up in a normal university in Iran with not many distinguished faculty, you would not have been prepared enough to do as well as you say you did in a foreign country. Our university has many problems, but still has the best and strongest faculty in the country that well match with our students talents. What we lack is the facilities and state of the art laboratories that are readily available in the west....Maybe with the help of successful graduates like you we can overcome that problem too. Of course it is our fault that we have never taught our students how to appreciate what they have and be more patriotc, atleast , toward their university...A Sharif Employee, who could very well live in USA and work with not much headache...but decided to come home and educate students like you for a better life....Good Luck and Warmest Wishes...

Can't the author finishes his article with a more sophisticated bios than this gross and bold one: "But unless the Islamic republic changes directions soon, all of that history and potential could be squandered."

Yes! thats true. you can not find such a massive iranian's participation in the field of science and technology on world level in the period of shah. it was all happened when iranians became master of their own destiny. of course, there are some difficulties, but it will get eased with the passage of time, and Iranians will continue to serve humanity as their first priority, as they are always keen to do this.

Wow. I???m amazed by the sense of negativity among people on this forum. I???ve had the honor to meet and work with some of graduates from highly accredited universities in Iran (Sharif, Isfahan, Tehran???) and they always amazed me with their level and depth of theoretical and practical knowledge. The educational system in Iran far from perfect but still it produces top-notched graduates. Go figure that out!

Wow. I???m amazed by the sense of negativity among people on this forum. I???ve had the honor to meet and work with some of graduates from highly accredited universities in Iran (Sharif, Isfahan, Tehran???) and they always amazed me with their level and depth of theoretical and practical knowledge. The educational system in Iran far from perfect but still it produces top-notched graduates. Go figure that out!

I notice that most of the explanations given in the article for the success of Iranian students are materialistic . However a deeper analysis of the Persian (ie Iranian) Civilization reveal other more profound reasons as well.
Iranians value highly art, science and knowledge in general. Saadi, the famous 12th century poet says:
'if you want to be on the top and respected whereever you go, educate yourself in art and science'. He says this in his poems and Iranian children read and understand them. Rumi says the same in his poems. This also explains why Iranian parents, give all they have so that their children can get good educatioin. Materialistic drive is necessary but not sufficient to produce top notch artists or scientists. Ibn Sina, Khawrazmi, Khayyam and others have been scientist , poet, writer and philosopher at the same time. This high regard for khnowledge has been a contsant feuture of the Iranian Civilization. Anecdote: one of the Chancellors of the Sharif Universuity has been Seyyed Hossein Nasr. Nasr started as top scientist, then he went on to become a famous philosopher and the best reference on Islam and currently a Professor at George Washington University.

I've studied at Ariamehr/ Tehran/ Sharif University for 5 years. I graduate high school with an average of 18,96(written) from 20. My IQ is 168. I was a top konkur!! student and a top uni student, but I was not a unique example at Sharif Uni. It was more than normal at that time and it is still. When I came to Europe in early 80s, and decide to continue my education, I realised the weakness of practical and technical aspect of my education in spite of a very strong theoretical fundament. I believe that Sharif students and graduates are among the best in the world, but I do not give credit to neither Sharif uni nor Iranian educations system at all. If those were at any other places, they will still be the best. Maybe better. We need many things in our education system, but most of all teamwork and generally more democracy and less ego. We need to be more result orientate. We have to get ride of self appreciation. Make Gods of nothing. It is a pity that in spite of all ??? these brains??? and Arien blood!! We are so very very much depends on ??? the others??? technology and solution. We are users not makers. Look at our country.

While "Algorithm" is etymologically rooted in his name, Mu???ammad ibn M??s?? al-Khw??rizm?? (or Khwarazmi in his native Persian) is more appropriately recognized as the inventor of Algebra rather than the mathematical algorithm.

Mr. Molavi forget to explain why Iranian students specially sharit could pass exams easily; because it's our system in Iran to bring us to memorize greatly and take tests easily. Look at our national university entrance process.

I have found personally the besst inventors in Iran doesn't come from Sharif university because these universities build nothing but bunch of theoretical students without any solid pragmatic knowledge! too bad but it's true.

by the way, this article would be meaningful if it would provide stats.

Maryanne-alien
I have taken a tour of MIT and something interesting that I was told was that the doors to the roofs were locked. The reason is very interesting. So many students of MIT commit suicide, by jumping of the roof that they were forced to lock the doors.

Maryanne-alien
I have taken a tour of MIT and something interesting that I was told was that the doors to the roofs were locked. The reason is very interesting. So many students of MIT commit suicide, by jumping of the roof that they were forced to lock the doors.

I'm from sharif univ. however I'm not a fan of that but I'm sure that ur statistics can't satisfy the facts!!