Universities should play their part in shaping the new Islamic civilization

Ayatollah Khamenei, the Leader of the Islamic 

Revolution, met Wednesday morning with 

heads of universities, higher education 

organizations, science and technology parks 

and research centers. Speaking at the meeting, 

His Eminence highlighted the scientific history, 

legacy and experience of the country before and 

after the emergence of Islam and pointed to the 

role of universities in contemporary history 

particularly during revolutionary activities and 

after the victory of the Islamic Revolution.

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution stressed the necessity of planning in universities and scientific centers for benefiting from scientific legacies and experiences, reiterating: “Measuring our scientific need for the present time and the future, preventing the rate of our scientific progress from slowing down, implementing the comprehensive scientific plan in a thorough way, paying attention to quality in higher education, pursuing the issue of the relationship between universities and industries in a serious way, encouraging universities to play their part in the economy of resistance, expanding the environment of religious and Islamic culture, deepening religious and political insight and providing opportunities for students and ideological, revolutionary and pious professors are the requirements that help universities play a role in shaping the new Islamic civilization.”  

Ayatollah Khamenei said: “During the time of Qajar and Pahlavi dynasties, the scientific movement of the country was unfortunately stopped because of certain reasons. At a time when science blossomed in Europe, we could not benefit from our talents, our scientific opportunities and our scientific disposition. This was why we fell behind the scientific movement in the world.”

Pointing to the westerners’ planning for training managers – in so-called third-world countries - on the basis of western thinking and lifestyle and with the help of universities, His Eminence stated: “In implementing their plan in Iran, they faced certain problems because of the Iranian identity and because of the development and depth of Islamic and religious thinking among students and academic personalities. And after the Islamic movement in the year 1341, a great and growing religious movement began in universities.”

He added: “The victory of the Islamic Revolution – which was like an earthquake for the western and eastern world of those days – exerted significant influence on universities and many of the most self-sacrificing and sincere companions of the Revolution emerged from universities.”

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution described channeling scientific articles and PhD theses in line with the current and future needs of the country as an important issue and added: “Nuclear science is one of the needs of the country which has been invested in since many years ago because if the possibility of using oil is eliminated or if oil reserves come to an end, we will definitely need alternative sources of energy.”

Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the attainment of 20-percent uranium by young Iranian scientists, saying: “At a certain point in time, the fuel for Tehran research reactor – which had been designed for making pharmaceuticals – was running out and westerners had set humiliating terms for delivering this fuel, but our talented and religious youth satisfied the need of the country for 20-percent uranium with their round-the-clock efforts.”

His Eminence mentioned that the most difficult stage in uranium enrichment is obtaining the 20-percent uranium and that obtaining higher levels up to 90-percent is very easy, adding: “The reason behind westerners’ nervousness on the nuclear issue was this. Of course, if they had delivered the fuel for Tehran research reactor, we would never have gone after 20-percent enrichment.”

He described the rate of Iran’s scientific progress and the continuation of the scientific movement as very necessary and fundamental as it makes up for the country’s backwardness, further reiterating: “Unfortunately, some people who are academics themselves say to students in universities that our scientific achievements are a lie! If they are a lie, then why does a Zionist research center express its concern about Iran’s scientific progress?”

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution also warned that if the rate of Iran’s scientific progress slows downs, this will be to the disadvantage of the country, stressing: “If the rate of the scientific progress of the country goes down, the gap between us and the scientific movement of the world will widen. Therefore, we should preserve our rate of scientific progress.”

He stressed the necessity of universities’ role in the economy of resistance with the cooperation of knowledge-based companies and stated: “On the issue of implementing the economy of resistance, what should have happened has not happened yet. Executive officials have just delivered a report to me about the plans that have been formulated for implementing the economy of resistance.”

Elsewhere in his statements, Ayatollah Khamenei touched on cultural issues in universities. Criticizing some of the measures that have been adopted, he said: “Some people confuse cultural work with sexually integrated concerts and camps. In order to justify their wrong measure, they say, ‘Students should be happy.’ Being happy is good for any environment, but at what price? At the price of holding mixed ceremonies and camps? Have westerners reaped any benefit – other than the current [sexual] crimes – from allowing men and women to socialize with one another so much so that we follow the same methods?”

His Eminence stated that religious and political insight is very important for youth as it prevents them from making grave mistakes. He reiterated: “The reason why many individuals – who were not bad people - slipped up in the fitna of the year 1388 was lack of insight. When the other side says, ‘Elections are just an excuse and the essence of the system is the main target’ what should a person who believes in the system do? If there is no insight, one cannot fulfill one’s duties at the time of need.”

He described lack of self-confidence as the gravest danger that exists for a people, stressing: “Lack of self-confidence and underestimating the capabilities and power of the people and the country make some people inside the country say, ‘We are nobodies and we are isolated.’ This is while everyone is acknowledging the power and influence of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the region.”

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution reiterated that educating youth who believe in intellectual, political and economic independence is an essential cultural task in universities. He added: “The news that I receive about certain universities and that I hope is not true shows something else as [I have been told that] religious, revolutionary and broad-minded groups are pressured in universities.”

Referring to his deep and long-standing interest in universities and academic societies, Ayatollah Khamenei said: “Today, universities and students are the target of the greatest plots. The enemies of the country are intimidated by the presence of academic personalities with a revolutionary and offensive spirit in the arena because they can eliminate their red lines, raise the flag of knowledge and highlight revolutionary slogans. This is why they plan for and invest heavily in confronting this movement.”

His Eminence stressed the necessity of promoting values in academic environments, saying: “We should pay attention to the concerns that ideological and revolutionary students and also thousands of pious and revolutionary university professors have in universities and we should thank and appreciate the value of such university professors.”