Iranian universities are increasingly becoming actors in AI governance and development, requiring agile, data-driven, and interdisciplinary structures. However, financial constraints, limited access to specialized faculty, bureaucracy, outdated curricula, and insufficient interdisciplinary opportunities continue to hinder AI infrastructure development and alignment with labor-market needs.
Global Experiences in Artificial Intelligence
- United States: Focuses on AI workforce training, digital skills development, and strengthening university–industry–government collaboration through AI research centers.
- China: Promotes AI education, innovative research, and university–industry partnerships, while introducing AI concepts in schools to build digital literacy and computational thinking.
- South American Countries: Brazil emphasizes soft skills, Peru focuses on women’s participation and postgraduate education, while Mexico strengthens AI capacity through national curricula and scholarships.
- European Countries: European countries combine lifelong learning, digital literacy, workforce-oriented training, and non-cognitive skills development, while the UK also attracts global AI talent through specialized visa programs.
- East Asian Countries: Japan promotes basic AI and data-science literacy across all university disciplines, while South Korea integrates AI into education, public-sector training, and interdisciplinary short-term programs.
- Selected Regional Countries: The UAE, Qatar, Türkiye, and India are expanding AI human capital through public education, specialized executive training, AI+X programs, university–industry partnerships, internships, and scholarships.
AI in Iranian Universities: Challenges and Policy Solutions
Iran has significant scientific capacity in AI but remains behind leading countries due to weaknesses in human capital. While Tehran and Amirkabir universities are major contributors to AI research, the country faces limited graduate growth, brain drain, inadequate practical training, fragmented research centers, weak industry links, and insufficient institutional autonomy.
Policy Priorities for Transforming Iranian Universities into a National AI Talent Development Ecosystem
- Short term: Develop professional and integrated PhD pathways, expand international and innovative training, and establish AI ambassador networks.
- Medium term: Create agile AI excellence centers and deploy personalized learning, career counseling, research/industry residencies, and professional boot camps.
- Long term: Build a national AI talent ecosystem, including a joint national academy, international support funds, industry advisory offices, and a national system for evaluating university AI outcomes.
This study is conducted at Islamic Parliament Research Center Of The Islamic Republic Of IRAN in collaboration with Governance & Policy Think Tank by Mohammad Amin Niksefat and Mohammad Hamedani in 2026.
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