Islamic Azad University

The Islamic Azad University (IAU; , Dāneshgāh-e Āzād-e Eslāmi) is a private university system headquartered in Tehran, Iran. It is one of the largest comprehensive systems of universities, colleges, and community colleges in the world. Besides Iran, the university has international satellite branches in countries such as Afghanistan, the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon and the United Kingdom. Downscaling In 2023 Iranian government 7th program merged or closed down several thousand universities with less than 1000 students. History Headquartered in Tehran, Iran, the Islamic Azad University is the world's sixth-largest university. It was approved and ratified by the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution in 1982, having been founded and established by Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. It has an enrollment of 1 million students. Since its inception in 1982, it has grown both physically and academically to become one of the largest higher education institutions globally. Over the years, IAU has promoted 'higher education for all' as its key objective. IAU has two independent and 31 state university branches across Iran, and four branches in other countries: the U.A.E., the United Kingdom, Lebanon and Afghanistan. Over the years, the university has accumulated assets estimated to be worth $20–25 billion. The Islamic Azad University's activities quickly expanded throughout the country, so that today thousands of students are enrolling every year. Not relying on government funding, it receives charitable donations and charges tuition fees.