Ferdowsi University of Mashhad

Dr. Farooghi, the president of Kabul University and an advisor to the president of Afghanistan, alongside his delegation visited Ferdowsi University of Mashhad and met with Dr. Mohammad Kafi, the president of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad on Saturday, November 4th 2017. In this meeting which was held as a result of tireless efforts by the Islamic Culture and Communication Organization, Dr. Bahrami (Deputy of research and technology at FUM), Dr. Vahedian (the Head of the International Academic Relations Department at FUM), and Dr. Abbasi (the Deputy of Research at the Faculty of Letters & Humanities, FUM) were also present. 
After welcoming the Afghan delegation to Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Dr. Kafi stated that “we should move a step above ordinary compliments and the expression of cultural commonalities and friendly relations, so as to enter operational scopes and functional collaborations. The president of Ferdowsi University added that “nowadays, the youth feel attached to their history and culture and we should make use of this situation to discuss scientific and historical issues”. Dr. Kafi also mentioned tourism, agriculture and technology as the other scientific grounds for mutual collaboration between the two countries. The president of FUM pointed to 130 knowledge-based enterprises currently active at Ferdowsi University and said, “We can share our experiences regarding knowledge-based enterprises with Kabul University”.
Following the talks by Dr. Kafi, the President of Kabul University and an advisor to the President of Afghanistan expressed his gratitude for visiting Ferdowsi University of Mashhad and Said, “the constructional foundations of Kabul University are being quickly implemented, but scientific foundations would take much longer to be established. This is why Kabul University needs to collaborate with comprehensive universities such as Ferdowsi University of Mashhad in order to promote its scientific level. Dr. Farooghi added that “we have to go through this path much faster than many long-established universities”. 
One of the major discussions during this meeting was to provide the conditions for the scientific promotion of faculty members at Kabul University through in-person and virtual education. Dr. Farooghi considered geographical proximity and sociocultural commonalities as the main factors motivating Afghan university teachers to continue their higher education at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. Also, the possibility for creating the Pashtu Language Course at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad was discussed by both sides. 
Dr. Vahedian, the Head of the International Academic Relations Department at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad also stated that among 1400 foreign students currently studying at FUM, 500 students are from Afghanistan. Dr. Vahedian added that Afghan students at FUM have the least educational challenges compared to students of other nationalities. He also pointed to the high intelligence and talent of this group of non-Iranian students.
At the end of this meeting, some gifts were exchanged as memorials between the presidents of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad and Kabul University. Following this meeting, Dr. Faroogh visited the Faculty of Letters & Humanities and met with the Afghan students at FUM.