According to Webda, on Thursday, August 20, 2026, Dr. Ismail Garivani made the remarks at a meeting of international affairs deputies and directors from the Ministry of Health and universities of medical sciences in the country’s Ninth Planning Macro Region, hosted by North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences.

Dr. Garivani expressed his appreciation for the establishment of the International Affairs Office, noting that it reflects the university administration’s commitment to expanding the university’s services and activities at the international level.

He said that, even before the establishment of the office, one of the university’s initial initiatives had been to pursue international university rankings, including the Times Higher Education rankings. The university’s inclusion in the ranking coincided with the launch of the International Affairs Office.

He added that, following the establishment of the office, the university’s relations with a number of countries and universities had expanded, enabling it to draw on international cooperation opportunities in various fields.

The Director of International Affairs noted that the university has established cooperation with China in the field of medicinal plants. He also referred to educational cooperation with universities in Pune, India, as well as the signing of a MoU with Afghanistan on telemedicine and health tourism.

Emphasizing the university’s cross-border approach to international activities, Dr. Garivani said: “We are seeking to expand the scope of our cooperation into various fields and, in this regard, to make use of the capacities of organizations and institutions such as the Chamber of Commerce to further strengthen international engagement.”