Press Conference of the President and Vice Presidents of Lorestan University with Journalists on the Occasion of Government Week / Lorestan University on the Path of Qualitative Transformation

Concurrently with the commemoration of Government Week, a press conference was held with Dr. Khosro Azizi, President of Lorestan University, and university deputies, with the media of the province.

 Journalists, in this press conference, which was held on Tuesday morning, September 27, 2019, at the Shahid Esmail Ebrahimi Hall (Central Amphitheater Building of Lorestan University), raised their questions and the president (Dr. Azizi) and the deputies of Lorestan University (Dr. Jafari, Dr. Rashidian, and Dr. Younesi) answered the questions.

Dr. Khosro Azizi, President of Lorestan University, said in a gathering of journalists: "I congratulate Government Week to all the statesmen of the Tadbir and Hope government, especially the colleagues of Lorestan University; I commemorate the memory of the two esteemed martyrs of the government, martyrs Rajaei and Bahonar, who were the role models of honest, selfless, and unpretentious service to the people, and I wish health and prosperity for the Supreme Leader, the esteemed President, all the statesmen, and you, the media."

 Dr. Azizi explained: "We have always considered ourselves open to criticism and have tried to fix the shortcomings as much as we could; we have never claimed that everything we have done in these few years has been without any flaws; we always accept sincere criticisms; the mission of the media in Government Week is also heavy from two aspects: one is that they should inform the people of the government's services, and the other is that: if there are any shortcomings and problems, they should take steps to correct the shortcomings by expressing them."

He explained: "Lorestan University was the first scientific and cultural institution that, based on the approval and law of the sixth parliament, evacuated the area around Falak-ol-Aflak Castle and moved to the current location, Kamalvand of Lorestan University."

The President of Lorestan University stated: "The per capita space in Lorestan University in 2014 was close to 8 square meters; Now that we are in 2019, the per capita space of the university has increased to about 14 square meters and in total has reached about 108 thousand square meters; Since 2014, nearly 34 thousand square meters of physical construction has been carried out in Lorestan University; In the field of science production and moving towards a community-oriented university and a university that can solve the problems of society, we have had a growth of nearly 330 percent in the production of various valid scientific articles; We have also achieved a growth of nearly 300 percent in extra-university projects; In the cultural field, our effort has also been that the university is a calm but lively and vibrant environment; In Lorestan University, there is a legal open space for the activity and vitality of all student organizations; Reformist, principlist, and independent student organizations operate in an open space based on the clash of ideas; In the field of students, I think we do not have any university in the country like Lorestan University that provides dormitories for all female students, even female night students; In the female students section, fortunately, there is no shortage for the accommodation of female students in dormitories; Our general policy is to consolidate the student dormitories of Lorestan University in the central site of Lorestan University; In this regard, we have received facilities from Bank Melli and are building a dormitory for male students in the central site of Lorestan University with a capacity of 320 people, and if this dormitory reaches the opening stage, a major part of the dormitory problems will be solved in line with the consolidation of dormitories; In the field of self-service, there are also up-to-date and scientific equipment in the university's self-service."

Dr. Khosro Azizi added: "We are not very in favor of the quantitative development of academic fields in the current situation; Quantitative development has taken place in the periods before us, and we should also thank all the previous managers of the university for the efforts they made, but now the situation of the society is such that we should give priority to the qualitative development over the quantitative development of academic fields and based on the regional planning, the qualitative development of academic fields should be expanded so that the skills of students and graduates are increased in proportion to the capacities of the province."  

He stated: "The creation of academic fields such as tourism, archeology, fisheries, environment, and the like, has been done in line with the university's move towards a community-oriented university and is a positive trend for increasing employment."

The President of Lorestan University added: "The fourth-generation university is a university that can solve the challenges of society, and for example, the establishment of the Oak Research Center of Lorestan University and obtaining a license to establish the Honey Research Institute of Lorestan University are among the measures that have been taken in order to strengthen the concept of the fourth-generation and community-oriented university."

Dr. Azizi stated: "The mismatch between academic fields and the job market is not only a problem of Lorestan province; Rather, it is a nationwide problem in the country, and of course, good measures have been taken in the universities of the country based on the general policy of the Ministry of Science in line with regional planning."

He continued: "There is a council in Lorestan University under the title of the Strategic Council for Green Management, which has paid attention to the reform of the consumption pattern and the use of renewable energies; Now there are 30 hectares of gardens in Lorestan University, and in this regard, we are one of the successful universities in the country; Good work has also been done in Lorestan University in the field of smart irrigation."

 The President of Lorestan University said: "In the discussion of strengthening skills training for students, good workshops and practical courses have been held for the students of Lorestan University."

Dr. Azizi explained: "The government alone cannot solve the unemployment problem and should strengthen entrepreneurship and the activities of the private sector; For example, the production and cultivation of medicinal plants is one of the agricultural capacities of Lorestan province, which, fortunately, good activities have been carried out by some students of the Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources of Lorestan University in this regard."

He continued: "Lorestan University did not have foreign students in 2014, but at present, and with the efforts made to strengthen international scientific diplomacy, Lorestan University has 53 foreign students; Various scientific memorandums of understanding have also been signed between Lorestan University and the universities of countries such as Germany and Australia, which is an important step in the path of developing international scientific cooperation."

The President of Lorestan University explained: "Lorestan University ranks 35th in the field of science production quantity and 42nd in the field of science production quality; This ranking has been determined among 180 higher education centers in the country."  

Dr. Khosro Azizi stated: "In order to improve the ranking of science production quality, a growth center has been established in Lorestan University; The regulations for upgrading the scientific rank of faculty members have been amended; Also, extra-university projects have been strengthened and expanded."

 Dr. Azizi stated: "The construction of the specialized veterinary hospital of Lorestan University has been one of the important infrastructural measures in the west of the country, which is now serving."

The President of Lorestan University emphasized: "The main way to solve the challenge of unemployment in society is to strengthen and improve the relationship between the university and society; The relationship between the university and industry, agriculture, and the executive branch should be a two-way and sustainable relationship so that the challenges of society are solved."

 Dr. Azizi stated: "Our approach is that university projects and research should have practical and operational outputs to solve the problems of society."