DUSHANBE July 11, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- Iranian University Payam-e Nour (The Message of Light) intends to open its branch in Tajikistan this year, Asia-Plus has learned from Khayol Boboyev, the head of the analysis and education reform department within the Ministry of Education (MoD).

According to him, managers of Payam-e Nour announced their intention to open the university’s branch in Tajikistan during of a four-day exhibition of Iran’s research, education and technological achievements that was held in Dushanbe on July 6-9.

“On the sidelines of the exhibition, they have visited a number of universities in Dushanbe,” Boboyev said, noting that representatives of a number of other Iranian universities and research studies participating in the exhibition have also expressed their wish to open their branches in Tajikistan in the future in an application to Tajik Education Minister Abdujabbor Rahomnov.

Payam-e Nour University is a long-distance mega university in Iran.  The university was established in 1987, and has 229 campuses throughout Iran.