Towards Third Generation Universities in Iran: Wish or Necessity

Universities are committed to upgrading human knowledge. Countries have different dates of establishing universities. There are old well-known universities, and new generation of universities are in the process of being established. Universities are changing in fundamental ways, moving from the traditional model of science and education to universities with vision of society leadership, creating wealth and innovation. Educationand researchbased universities are considered as the first and second generation universities (1&2GUs). Along with the rapid growth of technology and changes in communities and human needs, universities have also changed. Universities in developed countries have gradually crossed boundaries of 1&2GUs and entered a new era. Universities in these countries, while embracing their mission, have entered a new generation of academic activities, by preserving their previous functions. The formation of third generation universities (3GUs) is dependent on developed structures and infrastructures of these societies, as well as their valuable achievements in 1&2GUs. Iran has a long history of higher education. Jundishapur Academy is known as one of the oldest universities around the world. Before the Islamic Revolution, credible universities in Iran, such as the University of Tehran, Shiraz University and Polytechnic University, have been involved in academic activity at the national and international levels and considered as 1&2GUs. Since the 1970s, the number of universities and institutes of higher education has grown explosively, so that in a short time, the total number of Iranian Universities (IRUs) exceeded the total number of universities in developed European countries. The process of establishing new universities has continued until recently. Significant differences in the ranking of IRUs influence the future trend of these universities for entering next generations.