IAESTE

The International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience (IAESTE) is an independent, non-profit and non-political student exchange organization. It provides students in technical degrees (primarily Science, Engineering and the applied arts) with paid, course-related, training abroad and employers with highly skilled, highly motivated trainees, for long or short term projects. With over 80 countries involved and exchanging over 4000 traineeships each year worldwide, it is the largest organization of its kind in the world.

Since its inception in 1948, IAESTE has exchanged more than 350,000 students worldwide, playing a key role in the development of young engineers and scientists.

The main objective of this organization is to provide students in higher education with technical experience relevant to their studies; to offer Employers well qualified and motivated trainees; and to be a source of cultural enrichment for trainees and their host communities.

IAESTE Iran

In 1966, when IAESTE Iran was established, the only two Asian member countries of the Organization were Iran and Japan. IAESTE activities in Iran continued until 1978 when it was terminated after the Islamic Revolution. Later in 2002, by recommendation of  Dr. Masoud Motavalli from EMPA (Switzerland) and vigorous follow up by Prof. Mohammad Shekarchizadeh (College of Engineering) and Prof. Parviz Jabehdar (College of Engineering), an application was submitted to the IAESTE International which was accepted in July 2002. In 2005, because of the extensive hard work by the University of Tehran and the development of a well-organized committee, Iran became an associate member. 4 years later, in 2009, in IAESTE conference in Poland, Iran's application was accepted and it became a full member.

Many students from different countries visit and enjoy the land and culture through their traineeship with IAESTE. Iranian students also broaden their horizon by traveling abroad. For the past decade, around one thousands students from over 50 countries had visited Iran and enjoyed their professional-cultural stay and activities held by IAESTE Iran. Furthermore, more than 1500 Iranian students from various universities, including the students of the University of Tehran, had enjoyed travelling abroad through IAESTE coordination.