Biography of Mohammad Reza Aref, First Vice President


Name and Surname: Mohammad Reza Aref

Date of Birth: 1951

Place of Birth: Yazd, Yazd Province

Education: BS in Electronics, Tehran University, 1970-1975

MS in Electrical Engineering, Stanford University, 1975-1976

Ph.D. Electrical – Communication Engineering, Stanford University, 1976-  1980 

Work Experience: 

-         Deputy Telecommunication Company, 1980-1981

-         In charge of Telecommunication Company

-         Deputy in charge of Students’ Affairs of the Ministry of Higher Education,
1982-1983

-         Deputy in charge of Education Affairs of the Ministry of Higher Education,
1982-1983 

-         Acting Minister of the Higher Education

-         Deputy in charge of Educational Affairs of the Ministry of Higher Education
 1983-1984

-         Advisor for Education

-         Acting Minister in Evaluation Council,1990-1997

-         Chancellor of Tehran University, 1994-1997

-         Minister of Post, Telephone and Telegraph (PTT), 1997-2000

-     Vice-president and head of the State Management and Planning Organization, 2000-2001

-     First Vice-president, 2002 till present

 Political and Social Activities: 

-         Involvement in political activities and participation in organizing religious meetings before the victory of the 1979 Islamic revolution

-         Member of the Islamic Association of Iranian Students in the U.S. and Canada, 1975-1980 

Major Initiatives at Executive Posts: 

-         Launching the project for expanding communication and connection of 555 rural points, 1980-1981

-         Organizing hard currency allocation for students, 1981

-         Cooperation in reopening of universities, 1982-1984

-         Proposing the bill to discontinue dispatch of students abroad, 1984

-         Expanding universities and institutes of higher education

-         Drawing up plans to expand the complementary education in the country, 1989-1990

-         Contributing to drawing up the curricula of practical-applied courses and the High Council for the Applied Science, 1989-1990 

Scientific, Research and Educational Record: 

-         Professor (grade 17) of Isfahan Industrial University

-         Translation of 3 specialized books, one of which chosen the best translation of the year 1990

-         Writing and presenting more than 40 scientific papers and articles

-         Advising more than 40 Ph.D. and MS dissertations and thesis

-         Teaching at MS, Ph.D. levels

-         Contributing to the launching of the Ph.D. program in electrical engineering, Tarbiat Modares University and Isfahan Industrial University