Iran-Turkey To Promote Co-op In Higher Education: Official

Ankara, April 3, IRNA – Deputy minister for science, research and technology for international affairs said on Tuesday that Iran and Turkey have extensive plans to promote cooperation in the field of higher education. Talking to IRNA on the sidelines the first meeting of ECO Educational Institute’s board of trustees, Arsalan Qorbani, who is in Ankara at the head of high-ranking delegation, said that the two countries have earlier signed a memorandum of understanding and will discuss implementation of the agreement with new Turkish higher education minister, Gokhan Çetinsaya, during the visit. Among the topics to be discussed during the negotiations are the establishment of a joint university with Turkey and exchanging professors and students between the two states. Touring several Turkish universities in Istanbul is also on the agenda, he said. Referring to the proximity of views of the two countries about producing science, he also said that the two sides are eager to have closer cooperation to upgrade level of higher education. As to the first meeting of ECO Educational Institute’s board of trustees, Qorbani said that his ministry has fulfilled all the duties assigned to it regarding ECO. Iran has always been pioneer in implementing ECO’s objectives, he said, noting that ECO Cultural Institute’s seat is in Tehran. A scientific foundation affiliated to ECO has recently been set up in Pakistan, of which Iran is a main member, he said. Underlining Iran’s achievements in the field of education, Qorbani said that Iran enjoys high capabilities in certain fields such as education and technology. Iran seeks to promote regional cooperation in 2012, he said, adding that Iran is ready to make its experience available to regional states./end