Velayat University on the path to improving scientific conferences; from national organization to international horizons
Internationalization of Conferences: A Path to University Transformation
Opening Remarks by Dr. Azadeh Mehrpouyan
Dr. Mehrpouyan commenced the session by presenting a comprehensive report outlining the requirements of the ISC institution and the Ministry of Science for the internationalization of conferences. Emphasizing the role of international conferences in enhancing university rankings, attracting research funding, and expanding cross-border scientific collaborations, Dr. Mehrpouyan systematically outlined the implementation pathway for this process:
Key Requirements for Conference Internationalization:
Track record of hosting at least two previous national conferences with similar topics
Minimum 30% of scientific committee members from foreign countries
Scientific secretary with relevant expertise and associate professor rank
Approval from the Research Council, field authorization, scientific committee list, and support letters from three reputable universities
Registration in the ISC system at least four months before the conference
Dr. Mehrpouyan also referenced official forms from the Ministry of Science that are mandatory for registering international conferences:
Form No. 1 (Persian): Executive information, objectives, target audiences, budget, and formal approvals
Form No. 2 (English): Conference introduction for international organizations and inclusion in global systems
"Internationalizing conferences is not merely a scientific opportunity, but a strategic responsibility for Velayat University. This pathway requires careful planning, interdisciplinary collaboration, and active participation from faculty members."
Dr. Masoud Dehghani: National Conferences as the Foundation of Scientific Credibility
Dr. Dehghani emphasized the importance of structuring national conferences as a starting point, highlighting the need to initiate conferences at the departmental level. He outlined the conference approval process as follows:
Initial proposal by at least three faculty members
Review by the department council and faculty
Approval by the research deputy and university board
For international conferences, referral to the board of trustees and obtaining financial authorization is mandatory
Dr. Dehghani also stressed the necessity of directing selected papers to university journals, ensuring the presence of scientific committee members from outside the province, and updating faculty members' academic profiles. According to Dr. Dehghani, the failure to update academic profiles last year resulted in a 10-rank decline in the university's national ranking.
"National conferences are not an obligation; they are a scientific opportunity for academic departments. If properly designed and implemented, they can contribute to improving the university's ranking and advancing toward the international level."
Dr. Moradzadeh: Strengthening Implementation Infrastructure
Dr. Moradzadeh, focusing on the operational requirements of national conferences, presented key recommendations for strengthening infrastructure:
Establishing a permanent conference secretariat with specialized experts
Linking the Golestan system to faculty members' academic profiles
Organizing interdisciplinary conferences to address structural limitations of certain departments
Designing incentive packages for professors who sign international agreements leading to joint conference organization
Scheduling a specialized meeting with the university president and conference scientific secretaries (session resolution)
"National conferences will succeed when their implementation structure is sustainable, interdisciplinary, and based on collaboration."
Call for Participation
The Office of International Affairs and the Research Deputy of Velayat University invite all academic departments, conference secretaries, and faculty members to contribute to advancing the scientific level of conferences—whether at the national or international level—by developing precise proposals, updating academic profiles, and utilizing available resources.
international@velayat.ac.ir
ISC Conference Registration System ''link''
Related Resources and Documentation:
ISC Guidelines File: Includes validation and indexing procedures for national and international conferences (Download)
Ministry of Science Forms: (Download)
Form No. 1: "Organizing International Conferences by Educational and Research Institutions in the Country"
Form No. 2: "INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ANNOUNCEMENT" – Center for International Scientific Cooperation, Ministry of Science
Together, we connect Velayat University to the global scientific horizons.