Suggesting Strategies to Attract Foreign Students in Iran

The globalization of economy, culture and technology, attracting foreign students results in active participation in the global process of science production, facilitation of technology transmission, and enrichment of education process. Nowadays, factors such as advent of higher education as a business, and the key role of foreign graduates in the social and cultural development of countries of origin, and the effect of students mobility in the promotion of human capital causes special attention to the hidden advantages of attracting foreign students. Furthermore, the role of multi-cultural education in enrichment of trainings and promotion of equality, respect, mutual understanding and acceptance of cultures has duplicated the significance of internationalization of higher education. Although the number of foreign students has increased 2.3 times more than before in the last two decades, and countries of the region has provided ambitious plans for attracting foreign students in a serious competition, there is a kind of indecisiveness and lack of a major national strategy in Iran in this field. This article therefore, aims to introduce various models and different efforts currently made in this field through presenting world’s different experiences specially those of countries of region. Accordingly, through a survey, the viewpoints of experts, specialists, and administrators acquainted with different strategic choices were compiled by highlighting their priorities. The findings indicates that in the country's policy for attracting foreign students which has focused on the research and technology, the priority has been given to the concentration in regional competition rather to competition in global arena or keeping the existing situation. Additionally, regarding “student admission strategy” experts recommended that the country should follow attracting competent students as an effective strategy in compare with other approaches. Also findings show that main features of Iranian strategy include: preparing suitable welfare and scientific ecosystem, presenting high quality education, flexible education and providing inexpensive educational services.