Makerere taps into Iranian science

Jul 08, 2014

Makerere University is on the brink of tapping into Iranian science which has seen phenomenal growth in the last two decades.

By Innocent Anguyo & Clare Muhindo

Makerere University is on the brink of tapping into Iranian science which has seen phenomenal growth in the last two decades.

Uganda’s most populous university will soon start sending some of its staff and students to Al-Zahra University, under exchange programmes in science disciplines. Founded in 1964, Al-Zahra University is a female-only state-run university in Tehran, the Iran capital.

The two universities have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which will see them exchange undergraduate and graduate students; exchange scholars and staff and; undertake joint research and publication.

Generally, the agreement signed is geared towards creating a platform for the two universities to share experiences and knowledge, for reciprocal benefit.

Prof. John Ddumba-Ssentamu, the Makerere University Vice Chancellor said the partnership with the Iranians was in tandem with Makerere’s strategic plan of repositioning itself to meet emerging development challenges.

“We hope that our students and staff will benefit from exchange programmes in science fields, most especially in oil and gas because Iran is very experienced in these disciplines,” said Ddumba.

The Vice President of Al-Zahara University, Dr Khazali Ensiyeh, was quick to concur with Ddumba, saying academic endeavors are only useful when they help to solve problems in society.

“This is best done through the sharing of knowledge and experiences of academicians with similar goals and addressing local concerns through international collaboration,” Ensiyeh said.

The Islamic Republic of Iran has made great strides in aerospace, nuclear science, medical development, as well as stem cell and cloning research.

Iran ranked 17th in terms of science production in the world in 2012, according to 2013 statistics released by the Scopus, a multidisciplinary citation and abstract database for research literature and quality web sources.

According to Scopus, in 2012, Iran produced 34,155 articles. The same database reveals that Iran has the world's fastest-growing scientific output, measured by the number of peer-reviewed papers published in international journals. Iran ranked first in scientific growth in the world in 2011.

However, the relationship between the two institutions will be regulated by international law as stated in the MoU.

Over the years, sanctions have taken a serious toll on Iran's economy and people.

Since 1979, the United States has led international efforts to use sanctions to influence Iran's policies, including Iran's uranium enrichment program, which Western governments fear is intended for developing the capability to produce nuclear weapons.

Iran however, insists that its nuclear program is for civilian purposes, including generating electricity and medical purposes.

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