(LANKAPUVATH | COLOMBO) – Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Iran G.M.V. Wishwanath Aponsu visited the Iran University of Medical Sciences on 2 February 2023 to explore the possibilities of initiating academic collaboration and partnership between Sri Lanka and Iran. He met Vice President for International Affairs of the Iran University of Medical Sciences Prof. Mehdi Moghtadaei and discussed potential avenues of cooperation between the higher education institutes in Sri Lanka and the Iran University of Medical Sciences.
The Vice President described the overview of the Iran University of Medical Sciences including degree programmes, eligibility criteria, application procedure, course duration, enlistment of foreign students and other relevant details. While conveying that more than 1,000 foreign students from 13 countries are presently studying in the Iran University of Medical Sciences, he expressed the interest and possibility to enroll Sri Lankan students in the university. He further stated that one Sri Lankan student had recently graduated from the Iran University of Medical Sciences and sought the assistance from the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Tehran to recognize her Doctor of Medicine degree in Sri Lanka.
Ambassador Aponsu briefed about the recognition process of medical degrees by the Sri Lanka Medical Council and requested the Iran University of Medical Sciences to speed up the registration process of their university avoiding some difficulties that would be faced by Sri Lankan students who have interest to follow medical degree programmes in the Iran University. Further, the Ambassador requested Vice President Moghtadaei to explore the possibility of offering scholarships for Sri Lankan students to study in the Iran University of Medical Sciences especially in Doctor of Medicine.
In response to the Sri Lanka’s Ambassador’s request, the Vice-President of the Iran University of Medical Sciences agreed to consider offering some scholarships to Sri Lankan students in the next academic year.
Ambassador Aponsu appreciated the productive discussion that was arranged by the International Affairs Division of the Iran University of Medical Sciences and stated that this is an important step for further expanding Iran-Sri Lanka bilateral relations specially through higher education.
