Research Day Ceremony at the Supreme National Defense University

On Monday, December 18th, 2023, the Research Week was celebrated at the Supreme National Defense University. The event was attended by professors, scholars, researchers, and intellectuals of the university, with the presence of Brigadier General Dr. Ismail Ahmadi Moghadam, the President of the National Defense University, and Dr. Abdul Hossein Khosropanah, the Secretary of the Supreme Council of Cultural Revolution.

At the beginning of the ceremony, Brigadier General Dr. Ismail Ahmadi Moghadam extended condolences for the days of martyrdom of Hazrat Zahra (peace be upon her) and highlighted the heroic defense of the Islamic resistance fighters in Gaza, who effectively thwarted the enemy's advances. Congratulating the Research Week, he emphasized the significance of its name and considered it an opportunity to review and evaluate the university's performance over the past year. He emphasized the importance of identifying exceptional achievements during this evaluation to provide encouragement and motivation for colleagues to pursue the lofty goals of the university and the holy Islamic system.

The President of the Supreme National Defense University further stated that the objective of research is to unveil the truths, just as God has taught humanity the divine names and guided them out of darkness, leading them away from ignorance. He stressed the importance of acquiring knowledge and striving to attain these truths. He also highlighted the distinction between their approach and that of Western institutions, stating that they seek rationality that leads to resurrection. Furthermore, he emphasized that divine traditions serve as the foundation for the world, both externally and internally, and that the rapid advancement of technology should not lead to the abandonment of this firm foundation.

During the ceremony, Hojjat al-Islam wa al-Muslimeen Dr. Khosropanah, the Secretary of the Supreme Council of Cultural Revolution, delivered a speech on the requirements of research governance. He clarified that when discussing governance, it does not imply ruling over people, although it may involve elements of shared decision-making. In the context of research governance, the model differs, consisting of a network of scientists and intellectuals, which presents its own challenges. He also mentioned the Shahid Beheshti School of Governance as one of the esteemed achievements of the university.

Dr. Khosropanah further outlined the requirements of this model, including the codification of research policies, the establishment of a repository for needs and subject areas, the identification of elites and the development of an elite system, the utilization of faculty members and researchers based on their expertise, territorial planning and the establishment of mission-oriented universities, the creation of research centers within the country's institutions, and the necessity of theoretical frameworks rooted in ontology and philosophy, coupled with a realistic approach to research methods.

The ceremony concluded with the recognition and honoring of the top researchers at the National Defense University.