Pointing to the necessity of internationalizing the nation’s medical universities in accordance with the mandates of the 7th Progress Development Plan, Dr. Shahin Akhondzadeh announced the objective for 20 universities to secure a rank below 500, emphasizing that through software-based planning and expert strategies, scientific sanctions can be successfully bypassed.

According to WebDA-Zanjan, speaking on November 7–8 (Aban 16–17) at the capacity-building workshop for the international sector of research and technology across Macro-Region 6, hosted by Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Dr. Shahin Akhondzadeh, Deputy Minister of Health for Research and Technology, referred to the legal mandates stipulated in the country’s 7th Progress Development Plan, stating: “Based on this plan, twenty universities nationwide must succeed in achieving a ranking below 500 in reputable international league tables, and fortunately, this scientific potential and capacity fully exists within the country’s medical universities.”Stating that moving toward internationalization does not necessarily require massive financial resources, he asserted: “The greater part of this journey is achievable through software-based measures, process reforms, and meticulous planning; medical universities can take highly impactful strides utilizing their very existing capacities.”

Continuing his remarks, while addressing the pressures stemming from international sanctions against the country’s academic community, Dr. Akhondzadeh noted: “Although we find ourselves facing scientific sanctions, just as barriers have been surmounted in other domains, in the scientific arena as well, by presenting expert solutions and relying on our core strengths, we can neutralize existing obstacles and accelerate the process of elevating medical universities’ standing in international forums.”