Shiraz University - History

History

Shiraz University traces its roots to 1946, with the establishment of a technical college aimed at training specialists in the medical sciences with a four year program.

Initially called the High Institute of Health, it developed into a medical school in 1950. In 1953, the Namazi School of Nursing and the Colleges of Agriculture and Arts and Sciences were established.

With the addition of the College of Engineering and College of Veterinary Medicine in 1954, the school was elevated to university-status and named after the reigning Pahlavi dynasty. Other units that were subsequently added were the Dental School in 1969, the Graduate School and College of Electronics in 1969, Dentistry in 1970 and the Colleges of Law and Education in 1977.

In 1960, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, invited University of Pennsylvania president Gaylord Harnwell to come to Iran and examine Iran's higher education institutions. Harnwell prepared a report at the Shah's request, entitled A Pattern for a New University in Iran, and the Shah subsequently decided that Penn would assist the Iranian government in transforming Pahlavi University into the only institution in the Middle East based on American-style higher education. The University of Pennsylvania (Penn) thus became highly influential in shaping many of Pahlavi University's departments and institutions. Many faculty members from Penn were hence sent to Shiraz to teach and carry out research at the university, and a widespread exchange program was established. The president of the University of Pennsylvania was even awarded an honorary degree in Shiraz in recognition of the help of Penn to Pahlavi University. After the 1979 Islamic Revolution overthrew the Pahlavi dynasty, drastic changes were implemented at all universities. The name of Pahlavi University was immediately changed to Shiraz University. All universities were closed for three years in a so-called Iran's Cultural Revolution of 1980-1987 to islamize all the universities. Shiraz University is well known as a tough university with low GPA. Even universities like Sharif University of Technology and University of Tehran are not tough to the extent of Shiraz University. Such that, GPA 3 is the highest GPA in some major. That's why many students of Shiraz University believe their grades do not reflect their academic performance.