Necessity of Determining University Budget Based on Inflation Rate in 1398 (2019)

Prof. Mohammadifar, Honorable Chancellor of the University:

Given the fact that the Chancellor of a University deals with students, professors and employees who are academically in a high position, governing a university is considerably different from governing other organizations. The charming personality of university chancellors is a feature of high importance that all universities across the world possess; that is, the word "President" is used for university chancellors in many parts of the world. In this knowledge-based era which universities play a key role in leading societies, they are given a charismatic characteristic to ultimately guide societies. There are approximately 2600 universities in Iran, the majority of which do not have the characteristics of a university. In fact, at best, about 80 universities can play a significant role in the country.

University chancellors in Iran involve themselves in matters that move them far away from the goals of a university. Universities across the world allocate a specific time to education, then pay attention to research and finally consider employment. Universities are responsible for devising the society's strategic and major economic, industrial and social plans and making decisions in various realms. Currently, the universities in the country have passed the education and research stage and have entered the entrepreneurship and employment stage. However, we are at the beginning of the path and there is a long way for us to reach the ideal state. Nowadays, university chancellors are burdened with rudimentary concerns or, in better words, "a concern about survival." This means that universities frequently ask themselves the following questions: Can the university continue and survive in the current situation? Can it provide the research costs or pay the employees' salaries? Due to the 10 percent decrease in university budgets given by the Ministry of Science, the prospect for university budgets is not good. University budgets in 2019 should have been at least determined according to the inflation rate. Therefore, considering the budget allocated to universities, the future condition of universities does not seem to be a bright one and unless a careful and detailed plan is devised, the problems of universities will remain unsolved.

Universities have always been a centre for communicating ideas. The word 'university' is taken from the word 'universal', which means that the chancellor of a university needs to think on an international level and create an atmosphere for communicating thoughts and ideas. It is rather unfortunate that universities are highly influenced by the changes made in political sphere in the country, because this prevents high performing chancellors from achieving all their goals. Universities are not entirely independent in Iran and hence are easily influenced by political trends. This change in universities will lead to a change in their management, a predicament that rarely happens in eminent universities around the world.

Source:   Donya-e-Eqtesad Newspaper, Thursday, January 10, 2019