The first workshop on the ‘Internationalization of the University’ was held by the Office of the Vice President for International Affairs of the Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS) on January 21, 2023, at the Razi Conference Center of the university.

At the beginning of the workshop, Dr. Mehdi Moghtadaei, the Vice President for International Affairs of the university, welcomed the guests and participants at the workshop and presented a report on the measures already taken regarding the internationalization of the university. He kept on his speech discussing the importance of the internationalization of the university, the way forward, the challenges ahead, the prospects, and the general directions of the Office of Vice President for International Affairs.

Then, Dr. M.A. Amirkhani, the Deputy for the Director General of the Department of International Relations of the Ministry of Health, gave an introduction to the internationalization of universities and its goals, and explained the five main axes of university internationalization: (1) development of bilateral cooperation with science and technology centers, (2) development of the internationalization of the medical education system, (3) internationalization of the technological research system and knowledge-based companies, (4) internationalization of the treatment system, and (5) internationalization of the country's pharmaceutical and medical equipment system.

Thereafter, Dr. A. Pazouki, the President of Iran University of Medical Sciences, expressed his satisfaction with holding the workshop and pointed out the internationalization of the university as an independent, special goal among the seven goals of the university, which requires planning and numerous executive measures at different levels.

At this one-day workshop, Ms. Syrus, the representative of the country office of the World Health Organization in Iran, presented her speech about the goals and policies of the World Health Organization, and the capacities and mechanisms of collaboration with that organization, including the establishment of the World Health Organization Collaborating Centers (WHOCC).

Later, Dr. Ramin Kordi, Dr. Ali Akbar Haghdust, Dr. Mohammad Assai, Dr. Mohsen Asadi Lari, and Mr. Ali Mohammad Bidarmaghz gave their speeches, respectively.

The workshop ended with a question and answer session with the active involvement of the participants.