Omid Shakeri said Wednesday at the Iran International Conference held at Arak University that the Petroleum University of Technology, as one of the nation’s key scientific and technical centers, has long played a vital role in training skilled professionals for the oil sector.

Founded in 1939, the university has gone through four major academic phases, with its primary mission focused on preparing engineers and managers to meet the evolving needs of the oil and gas industry, Shakeri said.

He added that despite challenges in recent years—including the removal of employment privileges for graduates in 2016—the university is now on a clear path to regaining its original stature through new reform initiatives.

Preserving the University’s Identity

Shakeri credited the oil minister’s strategic decision to keep the university within the ministry’s structure, saying it prevented a transfer to unrelated sectors and sparked a comprehensive effort to improve educational quality. “This was a turning point in preserving the university’s specialized identity and strengthening its connection with the oil industry,” he said.

The university has produced more than 14,000 graduates, 94.5 percent of whom completed their studies after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Many of today’s senior oil industry executives are among its alumni, underscoring the university’s critical role in developing skilled professionals for one of the country’s most strategic industries.

 Four Specialized Faculties

Shakeri said the university now operates under a new structure with four specialized faculties: Abadan for undergraduate programs, Ahvaz for master’s studies, Tehran for management disciplines, and Mahmoudabad for marine sciences. Each faculty, he noted, has a clearly defined mission aligned with the needs of the energy sector.

 Innovative Programs to Improve Education

One of the university’s new initiatives, Shakeri said, is the “2+2+1” educational model, under which students complete their first two years at one of the country’s top 10 universities, the next two years at the Oil Industry University, and one final year of practical training within the oil sector.

“This model enhances students’ hands-on skills, improving their performance and retention in industrial environments,” he said.

Alongside this initiative, the university is planning to recruit young faculty members and revise its curriculum. With rapid global technological advances, new interdisciplinary programs are being developed and will soon be added to the Ministry of Science’s official admissions guide. These programs, Shakeri said, aim to train graduates with up-to-date knowledge and multidisciplinary expertise.

 Declining Interest in Engineering

Addressing a broader national concern, Shakeri pointed out a steep decline in interest among Iranian youth in engineering studies. “In 1994, over 400,000 students registered for the mathematics track of the national university entrance exam, but this year the number dropped to just 137,000,” he said, attributing the fall to labor market conditions and lower income levels in technical professions.

He called for a comprehensive review of the country’s educational and economic policies and urged greater cooperation between the public and private sectors to make engineering fields more attractive.

“The role of universities in training skilled professionals has become more critical than ever,” Shakeri said. “With proper planning in engineering education, we can direct top talents toward technical fields and ensure a strong future for the nation’s oil and energy industries.”

Shakeri concluded that with its transformative agenda, the Petroleum University of Technology can once again shine as the country’s premier center for petroleum education and play an active role in the sustainable development of the energy sector.