As an integral part of Tarbiat Modares University, the Center for African Studies holds the distinction of being Irans inaugural regional research hub focused on Africa. Inaugurated in 2000, its mandate was ratified by the Tarbiat Modares University Board of Trustees on January 29, 2001.
This center is one of the type 1 research centers of the Ministry of Science, Research, and Technology, and the purpose of its establishment is to expand epistemology about Africa and try to improve the level of relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and this continent through scientific research, whose research activities are supervised by a council, consisting of real and legal members and prominent professors and experts in African studies. The research projects are conducted in the form of four study groups (Geopolitical Studies Group, Political Studies Group, Cultural Studies Group, and Economic Studies Group).
The Center for African Studies was launched after a period of suspension with the approval of the Board of Trustees of Tarbiat Modares University in February 2018. The management planned the activities of the Center for African Studies again in three stages: launching and stabilization, development of activities, and independence of action of the center. The center is currently in the stabilization stage due to the start and resumption of activities and the opening of the new office in February 2024.
 Objectives of the Center for African Studies include
- Consolidation as the main center of African regional studies in the country;
- Gaining scientific authority in regional studies;
- Influencing Irans relations with African countries
- Development of academic interactions between Iran and Africa in order to
achieve the internationalization goals of Tarbiat Modares University.
The authorities of the Center for African Studies
- The Board of Trustees: The Board of Trustees of the Center are the same as the Board of Trustees of Tarbiat Modares University with the prescribed duties.
- The Director: The Director of the Center is responsible for administrative and scientific affairs, and the fulfillment of the legal duties and missions of the center. Currently, Dr. Majid Rasouli, a member of the academic staff of the Geopolitics Department of the African Studies Center of Tarbiat Modares University, is directing the center.
- Research Council: Among the duties and authorities of the Centers Research Council are the following: Reviewing and approving research projects of the Center, formulating policies and scientific programs, supervising the publication of books, scientific, and research publications, examining publishing, scientific and research needs, determining the policy and programs of the center for scientific communication with other educational and research centers inside and outside the country within the scope of relevant rules and regulations, and reviewing and approving scientific conferences.
In the fall of 2023, the real and legal members of the research council of the center were introduced: Dr. Mohammad Reza Hafez Nia, Dr. Seyed Yahya Safavi, Dr. Mojtabi Zarei, Dr. Seyed Ali Sharifi Sadati, Dr. Ali Rajabzadeh, Dr. Abbas Boroumand Alam, Dr. Shahrouz, Dr. Shariati, Dr. Mostafa Qaderi, Dr. Mohammad Nikkhah (representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and Dr. Hassan Heydari (representative of the Organization of Islamic Culture and Communication).
- Study and research groups: The duties of these groups include the following: Implementation of research plans according to the needs of the countrys executive bodies in the African area, expanding cooperation with organizations and scientific and research centers inside and outside the country, holding scientific conferences and specialized roundtables, and publishing articles and results of research projects
Members and Leadership of the Research Groups
Department of Cultural Studies Research Council:
- Group Director: Dr. Abbas Boroumand Alam
- Council Members: Dr. Amir Bahram Arab Ahmadi, Dr. Saeed Khanafereh Mavaddat,
Dr. Leila Khan Ahmadi, Dr. Naser Rezaei, Dr. Mahdi Keshavarz Moghadam, Dr.
Khalil Parvini
Department of Economic Studies Research Council:
- Group Director: Dr. Saeedeh Alizadeh
- Council Members: Dr. Mohammad Lotfi, Dr. Emad Nobahar, Dr. Mohammad Sadegh
Karimi Mehrabadi, Dr. Ahmad Ali Khaef Elahi, Dr. Majid Sheikh Mohammadi
Department of Geopolitical Studies Research Council:
- Group Director: Dr. Mostafa Qaderi Hajat
- Council Members: Dr. Meysam Mirzaei Tabar, Dr. Majid Rasouli, Dr. Ribaz
Ghorbaninejad, Dr. Sadegh Karami, Dr. Seyed Mohammad Taghi Raees as-Sadat, Dr.
Hamid Reza Nosrati, Dr. Reza Allahverdizadeh
Department of Political Studies Research Council:
- Group Director: Dr. Shahrouz Shariati
- Council Members: Dr. Mahdi Zolfaghari, Dr. Ahmad Bakhshi, Dr. Ali Nematpour,
Dr. Mahdi Abbasi Shahkouh, Dr. Naser Pourhassan, Dr. Najmiye Pourismaili, Dr.
Elham Keshavarz Moghadam
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