Emphasizing the role of research in the internationalization of higher education, Dr. Mohammad Hossein Ayati outlined four principles—“Internationalization at Home,” “Structure,” “Strategic Plan,” and “Monitoring”—as the prerequisites for realizing an international university.

According to WebDA-Zanjan, delivering a virtual address today, Saturday, November 7 (Aban 16, 1405), at the capacity-building workshop of the international sector under the Deputy Directorate for Research and Technology of Macro-Region 6, Dr. Mohammad Hossein Ayati, Director-General of International Cooperation at the Ministry of Health, highlighted the significance of article publications, journal selection, collaboration with international peers, citation rates, and their scholarly value. He commended the topics discussed in the workshop’s specialized sessions, expressing hope that these concepts would permeate beyond research officials and take root across the broader university body. Emphasizing that scientific and health diplomacy can serve as one of the most effective pathways under the country’s current conditions, he stated: “Health diplomacy rests upon two pillars: one is diplomatic, pursued through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Directorate-General of International Cooperation; the other relates to the medical services and advancements of medical universities.”

Noting that the “internationalization of higher education” entails specific prerequisites, Dr. Ayati identified “internationalization at home” as its primary and most crucial component, adding: “Recruiting international students is merely one indicator of internationalization; as evaluations show, out of roughly seventy to eighty rigorous indicators in this domain, only a limited few pertain to student recruitment and exchange.”

Furthermore, Dr. Ayati underscored the necessity of global visibility for universities, the establishment of scientific communication offices to disseminate achievements, the creation of a defined structure for international affairs within universities, the formulation of macro-regional strategic plans based on comparative advantages, and the implementation of monitoring and evaluation systems to oversee the execution of memoranda of understanding (MOUs).