From Early Lessons to National AI Capability
Artificial intelligence will shape future economic, industrial, and technological progress, Iranian officials believe. That outlook has strengthened support for broader education across every academic stage. National leaders view sustained knowledge development as essential for long term technological advancement.
Emadeddin Fatemizadeh said artificial intelligence education should start during primary education. He said instruction should continue through universities and specialized academic institutions nationwide. A coherent national plan would connect every educational stage with consistent objectives. Officials expect that structure to strengthen long term national technological development.
Authorities see education as the foundation for stronger national capabilities in artificial intelligence. They believe continuous instruction can prepare future talent before advanced specialization begins. That approach places education at the center of broader technological ambitions nationwide.
A National Plan That Builds AI Skills at Every Level
Officials identified artificial intelligence literacy as an essential objective across educational institutions nationwide. Teacher preparation received significant attention alongside future curriculum improvements at universities. Stronger academic foundations would support deeper technical expertise across multiple educational disciplines.
University programs will include artificial intelligence related subjects within existing academic curricula. Students will receive opportunities to strengthen specialized knowledge through structured academic instruction. Officials expect those academic changes to improve professional readiness across future technology sectors.
Authorities believe stronger educational preparation can strengthen national problem solving capabilities substantially. They also expect broader expertise to improve competitiveness for indigenous technology development. Those outcomes could support greater confidence in domestic technological innovation over time.
The headquarters established several priorities for the current year across education initiatives. Plans include support for specialized artificial intelligence training programs and public outreach. Collaboration with universities, schools, research institutes, and knowledge based companies remains another priority. Officials also seek development of indigenized educational content through coordinated national efforts.
Additional priorities include identification and support for talented young students nationwide. Students and researchers will receive stronger infrastructure for artificial intelligence research activities. Those resources aim to support future academic achievement through improved research capabilities.
Programs That Turn Strategy Into Classroom Action
Iran Digital seeks free artificial intelligence education for 4 million students nationwide. The Ministry of Education expanded that effort through classroom instruction across the country. Officials started artificial intelligence instruction for 200,000 students during March. The initiative reflects a broad effort to increase early technology knowledge nationwide.
Ahmad Mahmoudzadeh highlighted substantial progress through nationwide teacher preparation efforts. Authorities trained 40,000 teachers across Tehran and Mashhad through multiple course formats. Those programs included both in person instruction and virtual educational sessions.
Education officials also prepared 100 advanced instructors and expert specialists nationwide. Those professionals will support student development across provinces beyond major metropolitan areas. Expanded instructional capacity could improve educational access throughout different parts of the country.
Student support extends beyond classroom instruction through stronger research related resources nationwide. Authorities plan better infrastructure for students and researchers pursuing artificial intelligence projects. Improved facilities could strengthen academic opportunities across educational institutions. Those investments reflect broader support for future research and technical development.
Classroom initiatives place practical educational delivery beside broader national planning efforts. Teacher expertise and instructional reach now support wider student participation across regions. Those combined efforts establish stronger foundations before advanced university focused initiatives begin.
Universities Take a Central Role in AI Development
The Ministry of Science, Research, and Technology finalized a comprehensive artificial intelligence action plan. Officials prepared the framework alongside the Vice Presidency for Science, Technology, and Knowledge Based Economy. Authorities unveiled the completed plan during a December 3, 2025, meeting. First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref attended the official presentation event.
The framework identifies transformation across education as a major strategic pillar nationwide. Research capacity, innovation, commercialization, and scientific advancement also receive significant institutional attention. International academic partnerships form another central element within the national framework.
Authorities plan establishment of 5 national laboratories across selected universities nationwide. Postgraduate programs will introduce interdisciplinary majors centered on artificial intelligence studies. Undergraduate students will study artificial intelligence and digital transformation through updated academic coursework. Engineering students will complete those subjects as essential academic requirements.
Officials will select universities as national artificial intelligence research and development centers. Authorities also plan support for at least 3 domestic foundational artificial intelligence models. Those models include language and vision capabilities based upon domestic data sources. A secure platform will support research and educational data collection and sharing.
Science diplomacy includes stronger academic partnerships with Shanghai and BRICS member universities. Cooperation will also extend across member states within the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. Authorities also expect faster startup growth through artificial intelligence competitions and institutional support.
Education Becomes the Foundation for Future AI Growth
Hossein Afshin highlighted recent progress through stronger artificial intelligence scientific production nationwide. Nature Index placed the country among the top 50 global leaders. National ranking improved from 33 to 30 during recent assessments. Regional standing remains between 14 and 17 because of quality focused efforts.
Officials expect additional scientific progress within the next 2 years nationwide. Authorities also plan future artificial intelligence infrastructure through dedicated national platforms. Development plans include a future artificial intelligence assistant for broader technological support.
Those indicators reflect broader confidence in future national artificial intelligence capabilities. Continued investment across scientific capacity could support stronger international research competitiveness. Education ultimately remains the foundation supporting every long term objective within national artificial intelligence strategy.