Study of the legal potentials of Academic Autonomy in Iran

The issue of academic autonomy has been a buzz word for a long time now, synchronized with the establishment of university organization. What this study set sights on is that in addition to managerial deficits, this issue suffers legal shortcomings as well which has not been tapped on. This study, through the method of legal analysis, seeks to represent and analyze the current legal potential in Iran concerning academic autonomy and self-administration. These capacities historically have been different in the seven eras since the establishment of Dar-ol-Phonon. Limited autonomy and consultative system, institutionalization of limited autonomy in Tehran University, board of trustees system, dissolution of boards of trustees and returning to government centralism, renewal of old regulations and the commencement of autonomy granting process and finally accelerating this process since 2004 to date.The findings also indicate some ambiguities and contradictions in current regulations, but through introducing new legal capacities it is concluded that these limited powers have not been utilized efficiently because of structural impediments.