History

Islamic Azad University as the largest Open University in the world and one of the most significant achievements of the Islamic revolution was established in 1982 with the support of the founder of the Islamic Republic. In its precious 27 year journey in the academic, scientific and technological arenas, IAU has educated over 3 million graduates with various academic degrees who initiated their social activities and entered the labor market. IAU at the moment is the home of about 1,400,000 students, 64,000 faculty members and 33,000 personnel around the nation. These people are working and studying in 441 branches and centers that occupy more than 14,000,000 square meters.
This gigantic higher educational Middle East complex has around 600 schools with about 60,000 students and 24 hospital complexes in its command.
One of its most important glories is the considerable role it has been playing in the national and international scientific and empirical activities. Possession of modern possibilities and facilities as well as its intense communicative relations with the scientific centers around the world has produced novel researches in the various fields of science and technology.
Additionally, efficient presence of the faculty members and students in seminars, conferences and scientific competitions all over the world, has resulted in significant achievements and has also provided them the first place in several occasions. IAU seeks a place among the best universities of the world through its mission of job creation with the perspective of Iran 1404 and by recruiting 109000 faculty members and the establishment of about 250 research centers and science and technology parks in campuses.

Scientific and Research Sector

Collecting, Writing and publication of several hundred volumes of books and installments on varied innovative subjects
Establishment of 32  modern science and Technology Research Centers such as Nano Technology, Biothechnology, Plasma Physics Research Center, Center for Science and High Technology (CAST), High International Inter-scientefic research (CEIS)
A new organization with a new approach towards planning competitions, creating databases about exceptional talents, Preparation of protective instructions to commercialize the inventions and research projects of the faculty members. For instance in the Fourth Free International Robocop Competition, IAU students won the first place among more than 500 national and foreign teams. In addition during The First Kharazmi National Robotic Competition, IAU's best teams won the first place for average-sized football robots and small rescue robots, second place for small football robot. In the International Robocop competition of Austria 2009 The team of Islamic Azad University, Ghazvin Branch won the first place for 3D simulators, 2nd place for assistant simulators, 3rd place for real assistant robots and 4th place for the average-sized football robots, combined reality, figurative assistant robots and advanced maneuver of assistant robots. The same team also won the first place in the National Competition of Electrical Automobile Design. The well arranged protective policy-making activities of IAU have already made the potential abilities and talents of the students to blossom.
Publication of scientific, technical and inter-field periodicals such as the ISI quarterly of Science and Environmental Technology which has been allocated the most references with 25 referents among 13 Middle Eastern countries in 2007. In addition periodicals of Medical Sciences, Industrial Engineering, Iranian Psychology, Science and Environmental Technology had received scientific research degree from the ministry of science, research and Technology as well as the ministry of health.
Invention, Discoveries and scientific innovations
Over 1060 inventions and innovations have been registered for the faculty members, graduates and undergraduates and students of IAU. Scientific achievements includes several participations in the exhibitions of Hungary; South Korea; Russia; Malaysia; Belgium(gold medal, 2008);Geneva, Switzerland (3 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze medals, 2009); Archimedes Russia( gold and silver medals, 2009).

Research Projects

5948 completed research projects as well as 4298 in process projects with national and international dimensions. Currently IAU is working on a project of small Tokamaks in cooperation with 20 Universal Scientists from 10 Authorized Universities around the world under the supervision of The International Nuclear Energy Agency. IAU has numerous national projects in hand.

National and International Conferences & Competitions
A total number of 2764 conferences including:
38 international conferences
367 national conferences
807 regional conferences
218 provincial conferences
1299 internal conferences
Some of the main national and international congresses and seminars include:
The 1st international congress of Knowledge Development Movement
Software Movement and Free Thought(2005)
1st Regional Conference of Electrical Engineering( RCEE, 2006)
3rd International Congress and 10th National Congress 0n the Cooperation of  Government, Industry and University for the Purpose of National Development
The 6th Conference of Fuzzy Systems and the 1st Conference of Fuzzy Systems in the Islamic World