Malek-Ashtar University of Technology

Malek-Ashtar University of Technology
دانشگاه صنعتی مالک اشتر Dāneshgāh-e San'ati-ye Mālek Asht'ar
Malek-Ashtar University of Technology logo
Established	1986
Type	Public
Location	Tehran and Isfahan, Iran 35°46′59″N 51°29′35″E / 35.78306°N 51.49306°E / 35.78306; 51.49306, 32°52′49″N 51°33′10″E / 32.88028°N 51.55278°E / 32.88028; 51.55278Coordinates: 32°52′49″N 51°33′10″E / 32.88028°N 51.55278°E / 32.88028; 51.55278
Website	mut.ac.ir mut-es.ac.ir

The Malek-Ashtar University of Technology (Persian: دانشگاه صنعتی مالک اشتر Dāneshgāh-e San'ati-ye Mālek Asht'ar) is a public university of engineering, science, and military in Iran. This university was opened in 1986. Its campuses are located in Tehran and Isfahan. The university is named after Malik al-Ashtar, one of the most loyal companions of Ali Ibn Abi Talib. Malek-Ashtar University of Technology is often referred to "MUT" by the abbreviation.

Malek-Ashtar University of Technology provides both undergraduate and graduate programs. Funding for Malek-Ashtar University of Technology is provided by the Ministry of Defense. Undergraduate admission is done by the national entrance examination administered yearly by the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology.

In 2005, Malek-Ashtar University of Technology was identified by the German government as an industry in a mainly civilian institution which also conducts military research and development. In June 2008, Malek-Ashtar University was listed by the European Union as an entity linked to Iran's proliferation-sensitive nuclear activities or Iran's development of nuclear weapon delivery systems. Within their jurisdiction, European Union members must block all funds or economic resources of the listed entity.^[1]

History

In late 1981, the Iranian government brought together all military industrial units and placed them under the Defense Industries Organization (DIO).^[2] By 1986, a large number of infantry rifles, machine guns, and mortars and some small-arms ammunition were being manufactured locally. They also established three universities to educate experts for Iran's industrial and research centers: Imam Hossein University, Baqiyatallah Medical Sciences University, and Malek-Ashtar University of Technology.

Malek-Ashtar University was approved in 1984 by the Iranian Ministry of Science, Research and Technology. It was then recognized as a university in 1986. It had only one campus in Shahinshahr, Isfahan. In later 1999, another campus was established in Tehran. Its faculties include aerospace engineering, applied sciences, electrical engineering, management and industrial engineering, marine science and engineering, materials and manufacturing technologies, and information, communications and security technologies, and rector as of 2006.^[1]

Researches

Aerospace Researches

Malek-Ashtar University of Technology is among 5 public universities in Iran, where provide the Aerospace research and programs at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. These universities includes K. N. Toosi University of Technology, Sharif University of Technology, Amirkabir University of Technology, Imam Hossein University, and Malek-Ashtar University of Technology. The Sharif University of Technology was the first university, where has Aerospace Engineering degree since 1987. The K.N. Toosi University of Technology offered Ph.D in Aerospace Engineering in a joint program with Moscow State Aviation Technological University in Russia.^[3]

In 2003, Iranian Space Agency was established in an uninhabited desert area in Semnan Province, south-east of Tehran. The Aerospace Research Institute affiliated to the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology is active organization in the space science and technology applications. Five public Universities, one private university (Azad University Science and Research Branch), and one college (Civil Aviation Technology College) provide higher education and research in aerospace engineering.^[4]

Since 1990s, Iran started to develop a launch vehicle based on Shahab-3. The Iran Space Research Center started testing launch capabilities since early 2007 reaching 150–200 km altitude based on Shahab-3 series. In 2008, they developed a two stage launch vehicle Safir-1. In 2009, they launched a satellite named Omid into orbit using the domestically built launch vehicle Safir-2.^[4]

Biological Researches

According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) report on the biological activities in Iran, genetic cloning is being carried out at the Malek-Ashtar University of Technology.^[1][5][6] The Iran's activities about biological weapons began in 1985. By 1986, they established a research center in Tehran's Pasteur Institute to work on toxic fungus and microbial substances. The center succeeded in producing toxic fungus, and aflatoxin. In 1987, they moved the facilities to the Imam Hossein University.^[6]

A number of foreign experts from China, North Korea, India, and Russia have cooperated with the Ministry of Defense of Iran.^[7] The Research Center for Direct Biotechnology, which does not directly work on microbial weapons, is used as the center for biological researches and actively works with the Malek-Ashtar University of Technology, Imam Hossein University, and Baqiyatallah Medical Sciences University.^[6][8] However, the Centers for Science and Technological Growth of the Biological Research Center of the Malek-Ashtar University of Technology, affiliated with the defense industries, are in charge of mass production of biological weapons.^[7]

Chemical Researches

According to Iranian opposition groups, Malek-Ashtar University of Technology uses the center for chemical research and chemical engineering located in west of Tehran for a joint study with Imam Hossein University.^[9] The opposition group National Council of Resistance of Iran (affiliated with People's Mujahedin of Iran, a.k.a. MKO) has claimed that since 1999, Imam Hossein University has been involved in chemical research in a much larger scale. One of groups linked to this university produces a significant amount of nerve gas in liquid, vapor, and powder form.^[9]According to the opposition group, Sina Industry (Vira Laboratories) with more than 4,000 employees is another Organization run by the Defense Ministry. It is involved in producing chemical products. The Parchin Chemical Industries located in south of Tehran, is another center of chemical products. Another complex manufacturer near the city of Semnan is also engaged in producing nerve gas.^[9]

However, besides the opposition claims, Iran is not known to possess chemical weapons. Iran is a signatory of the Chemical Weapons Convention, which bans chemical weapons, delivery systems, and production facilities.^[10] Iran has reiterated its commitment to the CWC and its full support for the work of the OPCW, in particular in view of the considerable suffering these weapons have caused to the Iranian people.^[11] Iran has not made any declaration of a weapons stockpile under the treaty.^[12]

Buildings

The main buildings are located in Tehran include:

• Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Complex
• Electrical and Electronics Engineering Complex
• Management and Industrial Engineering Complex
• Communications and Security Technologies Complex
• Modern Sciences and Technologies Complex
• Non-factor Defense Institute

The buildings in Isfahan include:

• Applied Sciences Complex
• Submarine Science and Technology Complex
• School of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
• School of Material Engineering
• School of Electrical and Electronics Engineering
• School of Industrial Engineering
• School of Marine Science and Engineering

The university co-operates with several independent research centers. Among those:^{[1][2][6][13]}

• Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI)
• Ministry of Defense of Iran
• Amirkabir University of Technology
• Sharif University of Technology
• University of Tehran
• University of Science and Defense Technologies (USDT)
• Baltic State Technical University (until 1998)
• China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation
• Centers for Science and Technological Growth
• Biological Research Center of Malek Ashtar University
• Research Center for Direct Biotechnology
• Sina Industry (Vira Laboratories)
• Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO)
• Biological Research Center of SIO
• Damghan's Weapons Industry
• National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research
• The Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics (IBB)
• Tehran's Biochemical and Bioenvironmental Research Center
• Group of Fermentation and Biological Technology
• Missile Industrial Group at Parchin
• Shahid Babaye Industrial Complex (SBIC)
• Mechanical Systems Industrial Group (MIG)
• Special Industrial Groups of the Ministry of Defense (MIDSPCIG)

See also

• List of universities in Iran
• Iranian Space Agency
• Defense Industries Organization
• Iran Aviation Industries Organization
• Nuclear program of Iran

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} "Iranian Entity: Malek Ashtar University". Iran Watch, Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control. http://www.iranwatch.org/suspect/records/malek-ashtar-university.html. Retrieved 2008-08-27. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "Military Industries in’ the Islamic Republic of Iran: An Assessment of the Defense Industries Organization (DIO)". United States Air Force Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. http://cns.miis.edu/pubs/reports/pdfs/9707iran.pdf. Retrieved 1996-05-01. ^{[dead link]}
3. ^ "List of Aerospace Engineering Schools Universities in Iran". World of Aerospace, Google Pages. http://worldofaerospace.googlepages.com/Iran-Aerospace-Universities.htm. Retrieved 2009-07-25. 
4. ^ ^{a b} "The Emerging Iranian Space Program". Ameer Alam in PakAluimni Worldwide. http://www.pakalumni.com/profiles/blog/show?id=1119293%3ABlogPost%3A64819. Retrieved 2009-04-12. 
5. ^ "Top Secret Nuclear Sites and Weapons of Mass Destruction Projects". News Bulletin of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Council of Resistance of Iran. http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/iran/2002/iran-020819-ncri_news.pdf. Retrieved 2002-08-19. 
6. ^ ^{a b c d} "Iranian Weapons of Mass Destruction". Center for Strategic and International Studies, Washington, D.C.. http://www.csis.org/media/csis/pubs/081028_iranbw_chapterrev.pdf. Retrieved 2008-10-28. 
7. ^ ^{a b} "Iranian Weapons of Mass Destruction: Opposition Claims, pp. 8-10". Center for Strategic and International Studies, Washington, D.C.. http://www.csis.org/media/csis/pubs/081028_iranbw_chapterrev.pdf. Retrieved 2008-10-28. 
8. ^ "Conference at the Willard Hotel in Washington". National Council of Resistance of Iran. http://ncr-iran.org/content/blogsection/18/154. Retrieved 2003-05-15. 
9. ^ ^{a b c} "Clerical regime's chemical and biological weapons program". Conseil national de la Résistance iranienne. http://www.ncr-iran.org/fr/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=48. Retrieved 2005-05-27. 
10. ^ "States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention". Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. 2008-05-20. http://www.opcw.org/about-opcw/member-states/. Retrieved 2008-07-22. 
11. ^ "OPCW Director-General Visits the Islamic Republic of Iran". Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. 2005-09-08. http://www.opcw.org/news/news/article/opcw-director-general-visits-the-islamic-republic-of-iran/. Retrieved 2009-11-03. 
12. ^ "DRAFT REPORT OF THE OPCW ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CONVENTION ON THE PROHIBITION OF THE DEVELOPMENT, PRODUCTION, STOCKPILING AND USE OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS AND ON THEIR DESTRUCTION IN 2008". Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. 2009-07-16. http://www.opcw.org/index.php?eID=dam_frontend_download&fileID=13269. Retrieved 2009-11-03. 
13. ^ "Defense Industries Organization (DIO)". Global Security. http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/iran/dio.htm. Retrieved 2008-09-14.