Ferdowsi University of Mashhad

The International Conference on Language Learning and its role in Cultural-Literary Relations between Iran and the Arab World was held at Shariaty Hall of the Faculty of Letters and Humanities at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad on 30 January 2018. Scholars and thinkers from Tunisia, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and Iran participated in this one-day conference.

Dr. Ehsan Ghabool, faculty member of the Department of Persian Language and Literature at FUM and the scientific secretary of this conference participated in an interview conducted by FUM public relations office. According to Dr. Ghabool, this conference is part of the series of conferences held by the International Center for Teaching Persian Language to Non-Persian Speakers in a cooperation with the Islamic Culture and Relations Organization. This series of conferences aims to strengthen the scientific-cultural relations between Ferdowsi University of Mashhad and Arab-world countries.

Dr. Ehsan Ghabool reiterated, “From the total research papers received by the conference secretariat, 6 papers were presented by non-Iranian scholars, while 12 Iranian scholars orally presented their research articles. Also, the collection of articles would be published and the selected articles would also be published by Alderasat Al-Arabia Journal at the University of Lebanon.

In the opening ceremony of this conference, Dr. Mohammad Kafi, the President of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad pointed to the linking role of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad between Iran and the Arab world and said, “Ferdowsi University of Mashhad is determined to strengthen cultural and literary relations between Iran and the Arab world. Instances of the steps taken towards this goal are holding the conference on Persian and Arabic comparative literature for 3 consecutive times, holding a conference on the cultural dialogues between Iran and the Arab-world which was attended by over 90 Arab elites, publication of the oldest Persian and Arabic comparative literature journal in cooperation with the University of Lebanon, hosting over 700 students from Arab countries and having the largest center for teaching Persian to non-Persian speakers at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, more than 90% of the students of which are from Arab countries. The major motivation for all these activities is our belief that the only solution for regional conflicts is to establish dialogue. According to Dr. Kafi, scientific and cultural dialogues are currently the best and the most feasible type of dialogues.