FTEU Strengthens Its National Role with Government and Parliamentary Support

Chancellor Borzooei: Teacher Education Must Be Built on Infrastructure, Professional Competence, and Strategic Unity

At the 38th National Conference of Education Directors held on August 18, 2025, Dr. Rajab Ali Borzooei, Chancellor of Farhangian Teacher Education University (FTEU), outlined the institution’s major achievements over the past year and emphasized the critical role of strategic collaboration in enhancing both the scale and quality of teacher education in Iran.

According to the university’s Public Relations Office, Dr. Borzooei began his address by honoring the memory of martyrs from the 12-day war, the Sacred Defense, nuclear scientists, and national heroes. He described FTEU as the “center of gravity within the Ministry of Education,” citing twelve years of consistent emphasis by the Supreme Leader on the university’s pivotal role. He also noted that Minister of Education Alireza Kazemi has repeatedly referred to FTEU as the “heart of the education system.”

Institutional Synergy and Strategic Expansion

Dr. Borzooei stressed that FTEU’s central mission can only be fulfilled through unified efforts across all components of the education system. He explained that the university’s operations fall into two categories: those conducted internally, and those requiring external support from the Ministry of Education and other national institutions.

He highlighted several key developments from the past year:

• Approval of five major resolutions by the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution
• Establishment of the Central Faculty Recruitment Board
• Drafting of a new teacher salary framework for the upcoming academic year
• Implementation of a national talent admission policy, through which nearly 3,000 top-performing students will enter the university as teacher candidates this fall
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Budget Growth and Structural Reform

Dr. Borzooei noted that the Islamic Consultative Assembly passed significant legislation to increase the university’s budget. Under the Seventh Development Plan, more than ten dedicated provisions were allocated to FTEU. Following extensive advocacy, the Ministry of Science’s Expansion Council approved the creation of 31 provincial universities and one national university under the FTEU umbrella—now officially recognized as a full academic structure by the Administrative and Recruitment Organization.

He expressed gratitude for the government’s support, reporting that:

• The university’s general budget has doubled over the past two years
• Infrastructure funding increased fifteenfold last year
• Equipment and procurement budgets rose twentyfold, enabling major upgrades across campuses
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Faculty Empowerment and Academic Excellence

Dr. Borzooei shared that 700 previously unassigned faculty members were formally appointed last year, with over 80% qualified for top-tier national universities. FTEU also gained approval to recruit associate professors from other institutions. In collaboration with the Ministry of Education, 2,200 new faculty positions and 7,000 organizational posts were authorized. Dedicated regulations for faculty promotion and practicum training are currently under development.

Scaling Teacher Education with Quality Assurance

With over 110,000 teacher candidates currently enrolled and more than 30,000 new students admitted annually, Dr. Borzooei emphasized the urgent need to upgrade welfare services and infrastructure. He called on provincial education directors and national agencies to help close existing gaps.

He affirmed that teaching is rapidly becoming the most sought-after profession in Iranian society:

“A teacher candidate who enters the education system with satisfaction will serve with passion for thirty years. That’s why strengthening practicum systems, residential programs, and professional competencies is our top priority. From this year forward, no student will graduate without meeting all professional teaching standards.”

A National Consensus for Teacher Education Reform

Dr. Borzooei concluded by noting that belief in FTEU’s importance now spans the highest levels of government—from the President and Minister of Education to the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution and the Parliament’s Education and Research Commission:

“This rare alignment must be seized to elevate Iran’s teacher education system to new heights.”