A ceremony commemorating the status of university faculty members and Teachers’ Week, along with the recognition of outstanding educators at University of Science and Technology of Mazandaran (MAZUST), was held on Monday at the Sabegui Complex, with the participation of university administrators and faculty members. The event was organized by the Vice Presidency for Education and Research.

MAZUST President: Faculty Members’ Role in Guiding, Educating, and Fostering Students’ Development Is Essential Alongside Academic Instruction

At the beginning of the ceremony, Dr. Rabbani, President of University of Science and Technologyo of Mazandaran, congratulated the academic and cultural community on the occasion and emphasized the need to redefine the role of university faculty members in students’ education and intellectual guidance.

He stated that, according to Islamic teachings, the status of teachers is highly esteemed and extends beyond the mere transmission of knowledge. Faculty members, he emphasized, should also assume responsibility for their educational and formative mission. Referring to numerous Quranic verses and Islamic traditions concerning the status of teachers, Dr. Rabbani noted that Islamic teachings assign a distinguished position to teachers who contribute to the well-being and development of others. From this perspective, merely conveying scientific and specialized knowledge cannot encompass all dimensions of the teaching profession.

Dr. Rabbani questioned whether today’s higher education system has succeeded in establishing a balance between specialized education and the moral and identity development of students. He noted that part of the academic community has unintentionally reduced its role to that of a “data transmission machine,” whereas, in the Islamic educational tradition, instruction is inherently linked to moral and personal development.

Referring to the complex cultural and social conditions facing the younger generation, he emphasized that university faculty members cannot remain indifferent to students’ identity-related, ethical, and intellectual concerns. In today’s complex media environment and amid competing narratives, he said, faculty members have a responsibility not only to provide academic education but also to contribute to clarifying the truth and strengthening students’ intellectual and value-based foundations.

The President of MAZUST further stated that when a university professor contributes to students’ guidance, education, and personal development alongside specialized instruction, they can be regarded as a teacher who genuinely contributes to the well-being of society. However, if the university’s mission is limited solely to teaching formulas and technical skills, an important part of its fundamental mission will remain unfulfilled.

Referring to the late Imam Khomeini’s perspective on the university, Dr. Rabbani concluded that the university should serve as a “factory for human development,” rather than merely a center for knowledge transmission. Achieving this goal requires faculty members to seriously and responsibly pursue their educational and formative role alongside their academic mission.

Representative of the Supreme Leader: Faculty Members’ Commitment to Spirituality, Integrity, Discipline, and Professional Ethics Influences Students’ Character and Future

Hojjatoleslam Heidari, Representative of the Supreme Leader at the University, congratulated faculty members on Teachers’ Day and expressed appreciation to the organizers of the ceremony. He stated that respecting teachers is, in essence, honoring those who shape society and paying tribute to the status of knowledge and learning.

Referring to the academic and educational character of the late scholar Ayatollah Morteza Motahari, he noted that the distinguished professor embodied two important characteristics: self-development and social development. He emphasized that teachers seeking success in education and mentorship should first work on their own moral and personal development in order to effectively contribute to educating future generations.

Hojjatoleslam Heidari also referred to the intellectual and academic stature of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, stating that many academics, after gaining deeper familiarity with his works and ideas, have come to recognize the scholarly, civilizational, and intellectual dimensions of his character and understand that the role of a teacher extends beyond administrative and political positions.

He concluded by emphasizing that a faculty member committed to spirituality, integrity, discipline, professional ethics, and human values will naturally influence students’ character and future, helping transform the university into an environment for cultivating committed and impactful individuals. He stressed that society needs “teachers who shape human beings,” rather than merely transmit information, and that universities fulfill their true mission when, alongside knowledge production, they devote attention to educating committed, ethical, and responsible individuals.

Vice President for Education and Research Highlights Faculty Contributions and New Online Education Platform

Dr. Jamshid Pirgazi, Vice President for Education and Research, also congratulated faculty members on the occasion and stated that the purpose of the event was to honor the academic and professional status of university faculty members.

He explained that a series of programs had been designed and implemented over the course of one week to ensure the successful organization of the ceremony. Dr. Pirgazi expressed his appreciation for the support of the University President and thanked all executive and support staff involved in organizing the event, particularly Dr. Gholami, Vice President for Administrative and Financial Affairs; Dr. Taghizadeh; Dr. Kermani; and the relevant experts, especially Ms. Ghahri and Mr. Jamal-Arai, for their continuous efforts in planning and implementing the program.

Dr. Pirgazi also referred to the launch of the University’s new online education platform, designed to enable students to make better use of available educational resources. He expressed his appreciation to faculty members for their cooperation in conducting classes and for their efforts to identify and address some of the platform’s shortcomings.

Director of Educational Affairs: Faculty Members Are Central to the University’s Academic, Ethical, and Social Life

Dr. Maryam Taghizadeh, Director of Educational Affairs and Executive Coordinator of the Ceremony, congratulated faculty members on the occasion and described their role in shaping the University’s academic, ethical, and social life as fundamental and decisive.

She stated that Teachers’ Day is not merely a calendar occasion, but an opportunity to honor those who continuously and quietly contribute to education, research, and the development of future generations. Referring to the distinguished status of teachers within the education system, she emphasized that without committed and distinguished faculty members, a university would lose both its academic identity and its deeper meaning.

According to Dr. Taghizadeh, the sincere efforts of faculty members give meaning to the processes of education and research and contribute to sustainable scientific development in the country. She also paid tribute to faculty members who lost their lives in the service of science, describing them as symbols of the integration of knowledge, commitment, and social responsibility. She emphasized that their examples demonstrate how science, when accompanied by social responsibility, can play a highly influential role in the advancement of society.

Outstanding Educators of MAZUST Recognized

At the conclusion of the ceremony, the University recognized the dedicated and sincere efforts of its faculty members across different academic disciplines. The Outstanding Educators of University of Science and Technology of Mazandaran for the 2025–2026 academic year (1404–1405) were introduced and honored as follows:

1. Dr. Sina Majidian — Outstanding Educator of the University, Faculty of Chemical, Industrial and Civil Engineering
2. Dr. Ali Kermani — Outstanding Educator of the University, Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering
3. Dr. Mohammad Mehdi Alian-Nejad — Outstanding Educator of the University, Faculty of Science