This makes it difficult for the country to strengthen the development of the internationaleducation sector.
Less than a week after Israel's first airstrike on Iran, a series of universities declared a state of emergency, suspending all academic activities, including classes, exams and doctoral thesis defenses.
Amirkabir University of Technology, Sharif University, and Al-Zahra University, Iran’s top universities, have all suspended operations, with many requiring students to leave their dormitories immediately. Unprecedented security measures have been put in place, ranging from banning students from entering campus to suspending all food service and summer courses.
University infrastructure is not resilient to the crisis, experts say. Internet services have been disrupted across the board as the government prioritizes controlling information during a sensitive time. Some schools initially tried to continue online teaching and exams, but were forced to suspend them because of poor or blocked connections.
Iran currently has about 100,000 international students, mainly from neighboring countries such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan and India. When the attacks broke out and security alerts were issued, many embassies immediately took action.
India has coordinated the evacuation of hundreds of students, taking them to Armenia or to less affected areas outside Tehran. Pakistan is also actively repatriating students by land and air.
In addition to the logistical and organizational chaos, the crisis has also revealed larger challenges facing higher education in the region. First and foremost is the dependence of education on the political and national security context.
While many countries consider universities to be inviolable “safe zones,” in Iran schools have become indirect targets of conflict. The proximity of educational institutions to military and security centers has made them potentially dangerous zones for attackers.
Second, the crisis has exposed the risks international students face when studying in unstable regions. Many Afghan and Pakistani students are unable to return home due to political circumstances or lack of documentation, leaving them stranded. Even those who have been evacuated face great uncertainty: How will they continue their studies? What will their academic future look like?
The current situation in Iran is a prime example of the intersection of education and national security. It raises serious questions for the international academic community about how to ensure the safety and continuity of education in conflict situations.
International organizations, from UNESCO to global university associations, should consider establishing emergency mechanisms, providing financial and academic support for students affected by war.
The crisis has shown that knowledge is never out of the fight. Universities, symbols of peace and development, must be protected as true “demilitarized zones” where education can continue even in the darkest of times. For tens of thousands of students to abandon their studies midway through their studies is not only a personal loss, but also a huge loss for the future development of the region.
Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/sinh-vien-nuoc-ngoai-roi-iran-trong-hon-loan-post737518.html
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