Dr. Abbas Bazargan Harandi ,  Founder of Higher Education Statistics in Iran

 

Dr. Abbas Bazargan Harandi is presented as “the architect of the Iranian higher education statistics system” and a pioneer of educational research and evaluation in Iran. The document explicitly states:

“Dr. Abbas Bazargan is the ‘architect of the Iranian higher education statistics system’…”

He is also described as the Founder of Iranian Higher Education Statistics, a title given at his 2009 memorial ceremony:

“The Founder of Iranian Higher Education Statistics.”

🎓 1. Life and Education

The document outlines a rigorous academic path combining mathematics, statistics, educational planning, and research:

  • B.A. Mathematics – University of Tehran (1964)

  • M.A. Mathematical Statistics – University of Tehran (1966)

  • M.A. Mathematical Statistics / Educational Planning – University of Tehran (1966)

  • Advanced studies at the Indian Statistical Institute and IIEP Paris

  • Ph.D. in Educational Research – University of Chicago & Pittsburgh (1974)

The text emphasizes that this combination made him “one of the most influential specialists in Iranian higher education.”

🏛️ 2. National Roles and Leadership

The document lists over 40 major national and international positions, showing his influence on policy, planning, and evaluation. Highlights include:

  • Founder & first secretary, Iranian Educational Research Association

  • Senior advisor to ILO, UNESCO, UNDP

  • Secretary, Higher Education Development Council (1979)

  • Head, Science Policy Center, Ministry of Science (1984–2004)

  • Director General, Office of Supervision & Evaluation, University of Tehran (1973)

  • President, Mehr Alborz University (2014–2016)

  • Vice‑Chancellor, Bu‑Ali Sina University (1975–1977)

  • Founder & Chair, UNESCO Chairs in E‑learning and in Higher Education Quality Assurance

The document notes:

“This range of activities shows that he was not only a researcher, but also a key policymaker in Iranian higher education.”

📊 3. Founder of Iranian Higher Education Statistics

His most historically important contribution:

  • He designed, established, and institutionalized the national higher education statistical information system.

  • This system is now a core planning tool for the Ministry of Science.

The document states:

“He was the first person to design, establish and consolidate the higher education statistical information system…”

🎓 4. Academic Contributions

After returning to Iran in 1974:

  • He founded the graduate program in Educational Measurement and Evaluation at the University of Tehran.

  • He taught at major universities including Tehran, Shahid Beheshti, Tarbiat Modares, Bu‑Ali Sina, and Allameh Tabatabaei.

  • His key courses included:

    • Advanced Research Methods

    • Statistical Methods in Behavioral Sciences

    • Research Methods in Graduate Education

The document describes him as:

“one of the main architects of research-based education in Iran.”

📚 5. Publications

He authored more than 20 specialized books in:

  • Educational measurement & evaluation

  • Educational planning

  • Higher education statistics

  • Research methods in education

He is described as:

“one of the first to introduce statistics, planning, and educational research as a scientific system in Iran.”

🏅 6. Awards and Recognition

He received numerous national honors, including:

  • National Model Professor (2008–2009)

  • Best Academic Book of the Year (2001)

  • Dehkhoda Award (2018)

  • Multiple plaques of appreciation from the Ministry of Science and major academic bodies

The document notes:

“This level of recognition indicates his unparalleled impact on the Iranian higher education system.”

🧭 7. His Three Major Legacies

The document concludes that he left behind:

  1. The Higher Education Statistical Information System
  2. Development of measurement, evaluation, and educational research fields in Iran
  3. Training of numerous researchers and educational planners

 

He received plaques of appreciation from:

  • The Minister of Science
  • Deputy Minister for Education
  • Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Tehran
  • Office of Supervision and Evaluation, Ministry of Science
  • National Organization for Educational Measurement
  • Faculty of Entrepreneurship, University of Tehran

Additionally, a group of veteran experts in higher education statistics were honored alongside him.

Legacy

Dr. Bazargan has authored 20 specialized books, supervised numerous research projects, and established Iran’s first statistical information system for higher education. His work has had a lasting impact on educational planning, policy-making, and the institutionalization of research-based decision-making in Iran’s higher education system.

He continues to serve as a professor at the University of Tehran and remains an influential figure in educational research, evaluation, and policy studies.