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The 2006 NIKI educational trip to Iran was a great success!
The predominant theme of the trip, as a part of KIFS, commencing on April 22 2006, was the medical sciences and the program included visits to seven major Universities in Iran including Medical Universities of Tehran, Shahid Beheshti, Shiraz, Isfahan, Mashhad, Kerman and Kashan. Iranian academics from the US and Europe participated in this informational and educational exchange.
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Program
In each major city professors and officials of the host universities kept in custom with traditional Iranian practices and greeted us at the airport. After a heartwarming welcome typical of Iranian’s immense hospitality, we were escorted to our hotel.
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The following day, the program began with an inspirational opening ceremony that NIKI members, officials and faculty of the university attended. Introductory talks were given about NIKI and the concept behind it, followed by a discussion about the host university and its activities and future plans.
Several activities were planned and carried out in the 2006 educational trip, including:
· Public/specialized seminars,
· Medical/surgical procedure performance.
· Sub-specialized panels,
· Grand rounds and hands-on workshops,
· Meetings with residents and students,
· Consultation for establishing new academic departments/divisions/labs,
The group also had visits from the research/educational centers and medical facilities of the universities. This helped all participants in becoming more familiar with the scientific situation of today’s Iran. Also, NIKI generously donated some medical equipment to the university hospitals.
Mutual Agreement
The Board of Trustees of NIKI also succeeded in meeting with the presidents/vice-presidents of major universities to discuss future mutual cooperation with NIKI. A variety of issues were addressed and great progress made. To the delight of all participants the prevailing mood was immensely positive with a full desire to continue more joint-projects with NIKI in the future. The partners in Iran expressed their unconditional readiness for supporting NIKI as a promising scientific NGO.
Therefore, I am pleased to report that a Collaboration Agreement between us and the universities in Iran has been successfully finalized to our mutual satisfaction, enabling a fruitful cooperation between NIKI and Universities inside Iran.
The Board of Trustees of NIKI had meeting with following univeristy presidents, who were eagerly intersted in cooperation with NIKI:
1. Dr Larijani, President of Tehran University of Medical Sciences
2. Dr Zali, President of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences
3. Dr Shirani, President of Isafahan University of Medical Sciences
4. Dr Maleki, President of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences
5. Dr Zahedi, President of Kerman University of Medical Sciences
6. Dr Imanieh, President of University of Medical Sciences
7. Dr Bahrami, Former president of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences
8. Dr Nourizad, President of Kashan University of Medical Sciences,
Some objectives are finalized as following, with still others being currently worked on:
· Some objectives are finalized as following, with still others being currently worked on:
· Opening NIKI office, NIKI-points, at the universities in Iran to facilitate the process.
· Establishing Liver Transplantation Center in Tehran and Mashhad Universities of Medical Sciences.
· Establishing Pancreas Transplantation Center in Shahid Behehsti and Tehran University of Medical Sciences
· Establishing BLS and ACLS training courses in Masshad and Shiraz, Isfahan and Kashan Universities of Medial Sciences
· Adjunct Faculty Scheme with Isfahan , Shahid Behehsti and Tehran Universities of Medical Sciences
· Setting up new university departments/labs
· Establishing a AIDS research center in Iran
· Setting up Hospice, Supportive health system for terminally ill patients.
· Clinical/ basic research collaboration
Social and entertainment
A number of quality programs were organized for the afternoons and evenings for NIKI participants in each city. These included; nature walks/ hikes, visits to breathtaking monuments and historical sites, experiencing unique and majestic hot water springs, yarns from the characters of Shahnameh, listening to beautiful outdoor concerts, visiting museums, shopping at traditional markets and crafts fairs, etc.
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Each guide delighted and inspired the group with a myriad of fun and learning, thereby creating a more relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere, not to mention an endless array of unforgettable memories.
Feedback
The feedback of the participants confirmed that the event was very much appreciated and that there is certainly s a pressing need for future trips and also new joint projects. Presidents, officials and faculty of the universities privileged to host the NIKI team greatly admired the quality of the activities and the incredibly heavy workload.
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Acknowledgment
I personally would like to record my gratitude to Dr Bahrami who has supported NIKI activities by all means.
We can proudly say that the 2006 NIKI trip to Iran was very successful, and I would like to thank our group members in NIKI for their devotion to making the 2006 trip a very productive, pleasant and memorable event for both sides.
Looking Forward
We really look forward to the next education trip scheduled for June2007. For the upcoming trips, we plan to continue pushing the envelope by widening the themes and broadening the participation.
You, Iranian academics around the world, are more than welcome to join this worthwhile endeavor as we step forward to help our homeland develop scientifically! Simply fill the participation form
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Alireza Haghighi, MA, MD
Founder, Trustee,
Network of Iranian for Knowledge and Innovation
Oxford, United Kingdom
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