Iran seeks broader ECO academic partnership at Turkey EdTech meeting
Attack on universities ‘assault on humanity’s shared heritage’: Minister
Iran's Minister of Science, Research and Technology Hossein Simaei Sarraf called attacks on Iranian universities “an attack on humanity's shared heritage” as he met ECO Educational Institute (ECOEI) President Akif Kirecci on the sidelines of the Turkey Educational Technologies Summit (TETZ 2026), where the two sides agreed to expand cooperation in artificial intelligence, academic exchanges and joint research.
Speaking during the meeting, Simaei Sarraf said science “has no geographical identity and belongs to all humanity,” adding that universities represent a common human legacy. Referring to the recent 12-day conflict, he said dozens of professors and students had been killed and thanked the Turkish government and people for their support, MSRT reported.
He also described Iran's higher education sector as an attractive destination for educational investment and voiced hope that scientific cooperation would deepen under peaceful conditions.
His remarks followed Iranian officials’ reports that more than 30 universities sustained damage during the conflict, affecting research laboratories, classrooms and student dormitories, while dozens of faculty members and students were killed.
Kirecci said the ECO Educational Institute had enjoyed productive cooperation with Iranian universities despite perceptions that working with Iran could be difficult.
“Our experience has been very positive,” he said, noting previous collaboration with Iranian academic institutions, including a conference in Isfahan that helped doctoral students publish in leading international journals.
He said the institute is ready to expand cooperation on artificial intelligence and educational technologies and is also advancing a regional initiative to digitally preserve UNESCO-listed cultural heritage across ECO member states. The project includes three heritage themes from Iran and four from Turkey and is being implemented with Ankara University's technology center and a team of historians.
The two sides also agreed to pursue closer university partnerships, faculty and student exchanges, joint training programs, collaborative research projects, technology development and wider use of AI and emerging educational technologies.