Please introduce yourself and AZFA Center of Tabriz University briefly.

Servant of Mohammad Taheri Khosrowshahi; I am the president of the Persian language teaching center of international students of Tabriz University. Regarding the importance of establishing a Persian language center in the Azerbaijan region in Iran, I must say that due to the strategic location of the city of Azerbaijan and the historical importance of this prestigious country, the city of Tabriz has long been a bridge between Iran and the powerful countries of the world. In other words, it can be said that Tabriz is not just a city within the borders of Iran; Rather, it is considered an influential and important member of the Silk Road and as the gate of Asia to European countries. The influential role of Tabriz University among the countries of the region, especially the Caucasus, Central Asia and Transcaucasia, is not hidden from anyone. On the other hand, the membership of Tabriz University in important international unions, the presence of eminent and distinguished professors and researchers, as well as the important position of Tabriz University in the rankings of the Ministry of Science Research and Technology, have doubled the importance of its background and historical position in the current, important and sensitive situation.  Therefore, there are more and more capacities needed to create and expand the scientific relations of this university in the international field. For this reason and based on these scientific and educational requirements, the Center for Teaching Farsi to Non-Persian Speakers of Tabriz University has started its activity in the field of teaching Farsi to non-Iranian students since October 2018. Since the beginning of the center's work in October 2018, 2200 files have been created for Persian learners and non-Iranian students applying for Persian language education in this center. 1,700 students have completed their basic courses and intermediate courses and 500 Persian learners are currently studying. Following the widespread of the Covid-19 and in order to strengthen virtual education platforms, Tabriz University's AZFA Center, as one of the first scientific centers in the country, launched a virtual education system for non-Iranian students from the 17th of April 2019. Even now, all the steps of registration, receiving identification documents, collecting tuition fees, holding classes, taking exams and awarding the relevant certificates in the center of Tabriz are done in both face-to-face and virtual ways. Regarding the standardization of Persian language education in universities across the country, AZFA Center's training courses are based on the approvals of the Center's Policy Council; It consists of the members of the Persian language and literature department of Tabriz University and is held in accordance with the scientific standards of language learning as well as training courses in the form of four skills: oral expression, writing, reading comprehension and listening comprehension. Recruiting eight professors with the right to teach from among Ph.D. students of Persian language, forming a scientific committee to compile books, becoming a member of Taftash International Union, signing a memorandum of cooperation with some research and research centers in the field of Persian language education, equipping educational classes with modern requirements, creating AZFA Center's special bank ID and setting up communication channels in virtual space, holding more than 50 scientific and research meetings and attending conferences related to Persian language education across the country have been other programs of Tabriz University's AZFA Center in recent years.

Please give your opinion about the transformation of Persian language into the world's scientific reference language and the role of AZFA centers in this regard.

Regarding the transformation of the Persian language into the reference language of the world, the supreme leader of the revolution presented a vision of transforming the Persian language into one of the world's scientific languages, and this issue has also been included in the high-level documents of the country's planning. I believe that according to the process of scientific interactions in the world, a nation that does not provide a definition of itself with the tool of language is doomed to perish under the dominance of foreign and unfamiliar cultures and civilizations. On the other hand, it is impossible to maintain the scientific authority of the Persian language and expand it without paying attention to the digital requirements that have become inevitable in the contemporary world. Also, I must say that due to the progress of artificial intelligence, cognitive technology and digital translators, access to scientific content may not necessarily require mastering a foreign language in the future world. Recently, I was reading a scientific article on this matter, the respected author of which believed that it is impossible to expect Persian language to have the undisputed status of English language in the future. But this does not mean that the Persian language cannot emerge as one of the scientific languages ​​in the next fifty years.

Please tell us about the programs of Tabriz University regarding the quantitative and qualitative increase in student recruitment and the attractiveness of Tabriz University for foreign students.

Of course, in this regard, it is better to speak with the honorable President of Tabriz University and also the honorable Director of International Cooperations of Tabriz University. However, in order to avoid the inevitable and in response to your question, I would like to quickly state that one of the programs of the University of Tabriz regarding authority and scientific diplomacy, technology and innovation, the active participation of the University of Tabriz in international programs, is the exchange of professors and students. Among these measures, it is possible to mention the negotiation and conclusion of a memorandum of understanding to participate in the European Erasmus program with top universities in Turkey, as well as universities from Austria, France, Greece and several other countries, in the form of which a large number of faculty members from different groups are included in this program. Education and some doctoral students have been sent with full financial support from the destination university, and some foreign faculty members and some foreign doctoral students have been hosted in the form of a short-term visit. I believe that considering that the most important pillar of the realization of scientific diplomacy is the foundation for the acceptance of foreign students, therefore Tabriz University, especially since the last two years, by strengthening the Internationalization Strategic Council and implementing development-oriented policies in accepting these students, which is managed by the university's scientific and international cooperation management is done, it has been able to organize the process of admission and education of these students while responding to the high and increasing demands of education from international applicants. The formulation of these policies in the strategic plan of the university has brought good results; Thus, in the first festival attracting international students and based on the evaluations, Tabriz University won the first place in the country in four of the five sections of the festival and won valuable awards in the second festival. Currently, about two thousand foreign students are studying in Tabriz University. More than three thousand applicants to study in Tabriz University registered in the foreign students recruitment system for the academic semester before Rog, which is October this year. As you mentioned, Tabriz University is one of the pioneers of this way. Regarding the facilities and capabilities of Tabriz AZFA Center, I must say that the Persian language teaching center for non-Persian speakers of Tabriz University in the environment of one of the best and greenest universities in Iran; That is, Tabriz University is located and its classes are equipped with audio and visual equipment, smart whiteboards, assembly hall, study hall, specialized library and administrative department. Having a study hall, dining hall and sports halls is one of the important advantages of this center. Administratively, this center closely cooperates with the educational and administrative institutions of the university, especially the Vice-Chancellor of Education and Complementary Education, the management of scientific and international cooperation, and the administration of international students' affairs. The selected members of the Persian language and literature group act. The main audience and students of the classes are students and applicants from Arab-speaking countries, especially Iraq, Syria, as well as two countries, Turkey and the Republic of Azerbaijan. The two main tasks of Tabriz University Persian Language Center are continuous efforts to improve the level of Persian language knowledge of Persian students and teaching Persian language at different levels to those who are interested in learning Persian language.

Mr. Dr. Taheri, in your opinion, what is the importance of attending the fair to recruit international students and what are its achievements?

In my opinion, universities play an important role in the development of technology and technology, which has an important and serious impact on the fate of countries. Iran and the countries of the region, especially from the Arab world and the countries of the Caucasus region, which are adjacent to Tabriz, have an urgent need to develop scientific and technological cooperation so that they can neutralize the cruel sanctions imposed by the enemies. The establishment of such fairs can be an opportunity for foreign students to learn about the services provided by these universities, the educational system, curricula, tuition fees and how to register them. One of the most important goals of the fair is to exchange information and to know and evaluate competitors and promote companies. In international fairs, this exchange of information and knowledge of the latest technologies of the day reaches its maximum level, and companies can identify their weak points by examining their foreign competitors and take a big step towards the development of the country's industry and their company. On the other hand, in international fairs, communication with foreign customers and familiarity with international markets brings about expectations and needs of these markets for companies. By identifying the needs of international customers and examining its foreign competitors, a company can provide services at the international level in foreign exhibitions, which is a great achievement and brings foreign customers and exports to the company. Attending fairs to introduce facilities is one of the main ways to provide service. In fact, exhibitions, as one of the big events, provide an opportunity for companies and entrepreneurs to introduce their products and services to the business community and to establish relationships with new audiences and customers.

Please tell us how Tabriz University's AZFA Center participates in the fair of study.

Tabriz University will be present in this exhibition with two booths of International Students Office and AZFA Center booth. Since last year, when the instructions for holding the fair were announced by the organization, several specialized meetings have been held under the chairmanship of the honorable director of scientific and international cooperation of Tabriz University, and we have reached the following results. First, we think that the design of attractive and unique booths can attract the attention of the audience towards Tabriz University. In the design of the booth, attention should be paid to the details and colors, lighting, pictures and works of art should be used to make the booth eye-catching. Also, the display of products in the booth in an attractive and decorated way can attract the attention of the audience. We have planned several competitions. Holding competitions and awarding prizes helps to achieve the goals and remains in the minds of the audience as an exciting and attractive element. The use of different technologies such as touch screens, augmented reality and interactive videos can attract the attention of the audience and encourage them to actively participate in the exhibition activities. The presence of famous personalities in the booth and capable students can bring more attraction and attention to the company. In general, attracting audiences in exhibitions is very important and different strategies can be used to attract audiences. God willing, Tabriz University will be a surprise for the exhibition.