03.12.2025
At the opening of the Russian–Iranian Conference at RSUH, representatives of the academic communities of both countries discussed how cooperation in the social sciences and humanities can strengthen sovereignty and improve the well-being of the peoples of Russia and Iran.
The II Russian–Iranian Conference opened at RSUH on December 3. Speaking at the opening ceremony were Andrei Fursenko, Aide to the President of Russia; Denis Sekirinsky, Deputy Head of the Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education; RSUH Rector Andrei Loginov; and the Iranian delegation, including Deputy Minister of Science Mehdi Pendar, Director of the Center for International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Omid Rezaifar, and Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Russia Kazem Jalali. Representatives from SPbU, SFedU, UrFU, NOSU, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran University, and other leading universities of Russia and Iran also participated. The key topic of the meeting was developing a strategy for expanding Russian–Iranian cooperation in the social sciences and humanities. Andrei Fursenko thanked RSUH for hosting the conference and expressed confidence that the event would become an important step in strengthening Russian–Iranian relations.
Deputy Minister Denis Sekirinsky welcomed the participants on behalf of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education. He reminded them that the two countries were bound by a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement that included scientific, technical, and educational collaboration. Over the past year alone, more than 70 agreements have been signed between Russian and Iranian universities and research organizations. RSUH Rector Andrei Loginov noted that today the range of scientific tasks facing the academic communities of Russia and Iran has significantly expanded, encompassing diverse fields of knowledge. Leading Russian and Iranian scholars—historians, Orientalists, political scientists, and sociologists from RAS institutes and major universities—took part in the plenary session, where proposals for strengthening humanitarian cooperation were presented. Mr. Kazem Jalali, Ambassador of Iran to Russia, emphasized the need to develop shared approaches to the complex history of Russian–Persian, Soviet–Iranian, and Russian–Iranian relations. He also stressed the importance of creating, developing, and supporting major academic projects in the humanities and maintaining strong ties between Russian universities and academic institutes and their Iranian counterparts. Mehdi Pendar, Deputy Minister of Science, Research, and Technology of Iran, highlighted the development of academic mobility among students, faculty, and researchers from both countries. A key area is the creation of joint bachelor's and master's network programs, as well as dual-degree programs in the humanities.
RSUH has collaborated with Iran for more than 25 years. Agreements have been signed with leading Iranian universities and cultural centers. RSUH offers extensive academic programs focused on Iran: its history, culture, language, politics, and economy. Students study Persian. The University regularly receives delegations from Iran and conducts joint events, such as summer schools. In 2022, RSUH held a major Russian–Iranian conference on historical ties. Fourteen Iranian students are currently studying at the University in various programs. With support from Iranian partners, RSUH has assembled a large library of Iranology materials (over 1,000 books). Iranian studies remain a key area of the university’s academic and educational activity.
