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President backs major expansion of university research funding
Pezeshkian said expanding universities' scientific and research capacity ranks among the administration's priorities, stressing that the government is determined to draw on the expertise of academics and scholars in managing the country's affairs, president.ir reported.
"We need to use the intellectual and scientific capacity of scholars and academics," he said, describing universities as vital partners in improving economic management, efficiency and the effective use of resources.
The president said universities need between $1 billion and $2 billion for research equipment and expansion, adding that the government was working with the Planning and Budget Organization to secure the necessary funding. He said resources could be reallocated if necessary to address universities' needs.
The meeting also addressed student welfare, including funding for student support and meal services. Pezeshkian proposed giving students a greater role in university decision-making through surveys and consultations overseen by management faculties.
He said the process should begin during the first month of the current academic year, with university procedures adjusted where necessary after gathering students' views.
Pezeshkian also called for university admissions to better match the country's real needs and approved budgets, arguing that unnecessary spending on fields with limited practical demand should be redirected toward improving educational quality and supporting faculty members.
Turning to energy, the president said universities could help the government curb unnecessary consumption and develop a more sustainable culture around fuel use.
He outlined plans for government employees to go car-free at least one day a week and for students to receive public transportation cards.
Such measures, he said, could reduce gasoline consumption and air pollution while conserving energy resources and strengthening national resilience.
Pezeshkian also called on universities to contribute ideas on preparing for winter energy demand, reducing costs and improving efficiency, saying the government had already begun pursuing energy-saving measures across its own institutions.
He described students as "an opportunity" and urged universities to tap their ideas and intellectual capacity in addressing the country's challenges.
In a separate message to the Islamic Association of Students, Pezeshkian called for teenagers to become active participants in addressing the country's challenges rather than merely recipients of information. He urged students to understand national issues, think critically, offer ideas and contribute within their capacity to finding solutions.
He described the Islamic Association of Students as a lasting legacy of the Islamic Revolution and stressed the importance of strengthening young people's analytical, intellectual and spiritual capacities. The government, he said, supports educational institutions that can provide greater opportunities for young people to participate in society and help shape the country's future.