Faculty Exodus from Iran’s Universities: A Looming Crisis for Higher Education and Healthcare

The ongoing exodus of faculty members from Iran’s universities, particularly within the medical institutions, has raised significant alarms among educational authorities. Mohammad Jalili, the Head of the Faculty Recruitment Center at Iran’s Ministry of Health and Medical Education, has highlighted the severity of this trend, which is now affecting the nation’s major universities. Many professors are opting to leave the academic system in search of opportunities in their fields or seeking to emigrate abroad.

In an interview with the Shafqna website on March 23, Jalili described the situation as “very worrying.” He emphasized the importance of university professors, stating, “These individuals represent a significant investment made by the country, and we cannot afford to lose them easily.”

Strategies to Retain Faculty Members

In response to this alarming trend, Jalili proposed several strategies aimed at retaining faculty members:

• Enhancing Social Status: Improving the respect and recognition afforded to professors.
• Improving Livelihood: Enhancing the welfare and living conditions of faculty members.
• Simplifying Recruitment: Streamlining the processes for attracting and retaining top academic talent.

Jalili stressed that these measures are crucial to prevent further departures from the academic community. He also noted that the issue of faculty migration is widespread across all Iranian universities. “We even have cases where individuals either do not have the opportunity to join the academic ranks, or if they do, they leave the system entirely,” he explained. “After leaving, they either continue their careers in their fields or emigrate abroad.”

A Growing Trend

This increasing trend of faculty emigration is not a recent phenomenon. There have been numerous reports highlighting the emigration of senior professors and key figures from various sectors, particularly in healthcare. The mass departure of medical professionals, including doctors, nurses, and pharmacists, has sparked serious concerns about the future stability of Iran’s healthcare system.

The Lack of Reliable Data

One of the critical issues identified by Jalili is the absence of accurate and official statistics regarding faculty member emigration. This lack of reliable data only intensifies the concerns among university administrators and policymakers. Jalili pointed out that the migration crisis poses significant challenges for universities of all sizes, from large institutions to smaller ones.

In his interview, Jalili addressed the financial challenges that university faculty face. He specifically mentioned the capped salaries for faculty members at medical universities, noting that the minimum salary is over 20 million tomans, while the maximum salary is approximately 60 million tomans. Jalili characterized this payment cap as “irrational” and advocated for its removal, emphasizing the necessity of more competitive compensation packages to retain faculty members.

A National Crisis

The emigration of faculty members is symptomatic of a broader national trend. Mostafa Moein, former Minister of Science and President of the Iranian Society for Ethics in Science and Technology, revealed alarming data from January 2025. He reported that:

• 53% of professors
• 45% of doctors and nurses
• 40% of students and graduates

have contemplated emigrating from Iran. Moein further noted that only 16% of Iranians have no thoughts of leaving the country.

This trend is exacerbated by the ongoing issue of dismissals of university professors. In recent years, numerous professors have faced disciplinary actions related to their political beliefs and activism. In September 2024, former MP Mahmoud Sadeghi revealed that over 1,500 professors had experienced “administrative punishment” for their involvement in the 2024 uprising. Additionally, a report from Etemad newspaper in August 2023 detailed that 52 professors had been dismissed, forced into retirement, or suspended from their teaching positions between September 2021 and September 2023.

Conclusion

The persistent departure of university professors, particularly in the medical field, represents a formidable challenge for both the academic and healthcare sectors in Iran. While the lack of reliable data obscures the full extent of this migration, the consequences are evident. As Jalili and other experts have underscored, retaining these intellectual and professional elites is crucial for the nation’s future. Without urgent reforms to improve working conditions, enhance compensation, and elevate societal respect for professors, the exodus is likely to persist, further undermining Iran’s educational and healthcare systems.