The Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei received a large number of professors and staff members of various Iranian universities and higher education institutes on Thursday, October 5.
Fifteen university professors and staff members expressed their views on various scientific and academic issues at their meeting with the Leader of the Islamic Republic which took nearly three hours.
The academic figures stressed the need for relevant government officials to make greater intellectual and material investment in the field of the humanities as the basis of growth and development of other sciences and pay more attention to the humanities courses at universities, reinforce the country's scientific and research infrastructures, and turn the issue of research into a dominant discourse at scientific institutes.
Among other issues raised by the university professors were the need for the three government branches to pay greater attention to national objectives such as a scientific and theorizing movement in the area of basic sciences aimed at the production of knowledge, and also the appropriate management of brilliant talents and intellectual capabilities with the intention of paving the way for greater scientific strides in the country.
They also called for formulating a long-term strategy for various scientific centers within the framework of the country's 20-Year Perspective Document, making greater investment in the field of modern technologies, devising plans aimed at raising the qualitative level of universities, and bolstering up the Persian language and literature courses both inside the country and abroad.
Speaking at the meeting, Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the meeting as an indication of the great significance that is attached to science and scientists. He stated that paying homage to scholars and scientists is condusive to the promotion of scientific knowledge in society, and that it will ensure scientific progress and a bright future for the country and nation.
"The holding of such meetings and the expression of views by university professors on various scientific and academic issues will also help the executive officials to become familiar with such issues," Ayatollah Khamenei remarked.
The Leader further stated that despite the great scientific achievements made over the past decade in different fields of science and research in the country, Iranian scientists and researchers still have a long way ahead on the path to full-scale scientific progress, and that they should continue treading the path with strong motivation and unceasing and tireless efforts.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Ayatollah Khamenei noted that the opening up of new frontiers in the field of science and ranking first in the world in terms of scientific progress in the next fifty years is quite an attainable objective for the Iranian scientists.
"Accomplishing this very noble objective requires trust in one's national ability and Iranian aptitude, plans to utilize the country's natural resources and potentials in an optimal manner and taking motivating lessons from and building on the useful experience and achievements of the past 27 years," Ayatollah Khamenei told the audience.
He further stated that university professors and staff members should be characterized by some special qualities such as scientific courage, initiative and creativity, avoiding an imitative attitude toward Western scientific progress, personal and national self-confidence, as well as diligence and perseverance in order to be able to perform their heavy responsibilities well. He added that the remedy for all the problems facing the country lies in scientific progress.
The Leader of the Islamic Republic referred to boosting the Islamic-Iranian identity of students as another major responsibility of university instructors.
"Iranian youngsters should really feel proud of their being Iranian and, while relying on the historical and cultural heritage of this great country, they should take pride in and feel honored by the present high status of the Islamic Iran in the world," the Leader remarked.
At the end of the meeting, the university professors and staff members said their evening and night prayers, which were led by Ayatollah Khamenei. Then, they broke their fast in the presence of the Leader of the Islamic Republic.