INTRODUCTION:

One of the most cherished aims of the far-sighted scholars and thinkers of the theological seminaries is to establish centers and institutes which train individuals who are well-versed in Islamic subjects, present-day issues and advanced modern sciences. Besides, they should be able to fulfill the religious, cultural and behavioral needs of the society, as well as to confront false dogmas and beliefs, incorrect assumptions from religious subjects and the evil and divisive inclinations in a logical manner, enabling them to win the great cultural battles being waged between civilizations.

The Imam Khomeini (RA) Educational and Research Institute is one of those institutions, that was established years ago precisely with this objective in mind.

History of Establishment of the Institute

Initially, the move to establish the Imam Khomeini (RA) Educational and Research Institute (in Qom) began in the Iranian year 1354 (1974), with the creation of the educational section in "The Rah-e-Haq Institute"

At the beginning, the Rah-e-Haq Institute started its activities by offering educational and cultural services to the youth and the young adults in order to prepare them intellectually to confront the anti-Islamic propaganda, especially the propagation of Christianity, and Marxist ideologies. Later, it continued with its efforts to train the young scholars and educate researchers in the field of humanities.

The academic department of the Rah-e-Haq Institute was established with the intention of providing quality education to those possessing the right attributes needed to express and propagate the Islamic viewpoints on the current cultural, political, social, ideological subjects, etc.

This section began its activities offering 5-year courses in the relevant fields of specialization. Besides, in addition to courses on the subjects of conceptual interpretation, Islamic philosophy, etc., this division also taught foreign languages and humanities in general. At the Rah-e-Haq Institute, textbooks of the scholar Mesbah Yazdi in economics, philosophy, jurisprudence and Qur'anic studies were taught extensively to the students.

The execution of these programs brought about dramatic results; and with the patronage and encouragement of the late Imam Khomeini (RA), the academic work of the Institute continued to flourish. The underwriting of the operational expenses by the late Imam, gave the required impetus and resulted in the further development of the programs of this center on a wider scale. Consequently, this support led to the establishment of the `Baqir-ol-Oloom (AS) Cultural Foundation.

The Baqir-ol-Oloom

Cultural Foundation

After the magnificent victory of the Islamic Revolution of Iran and the merciless onslaught of atheistic and reactionary propaganda against Islam, an urgent need was felt for specialist individuals in the various fields of humanities. For this reason, the Baqir-ol-Oloom (AS) Cultural Foundation was established so that researchers and students of the Rah-e-Haq Institute could continue with their education in the field of specialization after completing their 5-year graduate degree course over there.

The Cultural Foundation started its activities initially in the fields of study that were closer to the theological sciences. The rest of the humanities - Islamic subjects were offered only later.

Because of the expansion of the activities of the Foundation and the lack of suitable facilities commensurate with the academic requirements, it was decided that a concerted effort should be made to establish a separate and independent Institute in which all the educational and research activities under consideration was to be centralized in a vastly expanded system.

In this manner, and with the consent and infinite encouragement of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution of Iran, Grand Ayatollah Khamenei, the construction work on "The Imam Khomeini (RA) Educational and Research Institute" was started in the Iranian year 1371 (1992) and was completed three years later, in the Iranian year 1374 (1995). Upon its completion, the educational division of the Rah-e-Haq Institute as well as the educational and research activities of the `Baqir-ol-Oloom (AS) Foundation' was transferred to the newly-established Institute.

The Status of The Imam Khomeini (RA) Institute Within

the Educational System of the Seminary

The Imam Khomeini (RA) Educational and Research Institute which has currently more than 700 students and researchers on its enrollment, is an officially recognized institute within the Qom Theological School whose recognized status was communicated to the Ministry of Culture and Higher Education by the Higher Revolutionary Council on Iranian calendar 20/4/1374 (10/7/1995). According to the regulations of the Higher Council of the Cultural Revolution, it is an educational and research institution which is administered under the auspices of the Supreme Leader. It is allowed to offer courses at the post-graduate and doctoral levels to the research students whose applications have been approved by the Theological School and to confer on them officially recognized degrees.

Objectives

The overall objectives of the institution is to train philosophers and thinkers to do research, to teach and to compile Islamic subjects for their worldwide publication.

Therefore, it endeavors to acquaint the young and talented scholars and men of learning about the social science subjects, side-by-side theological subjects, with the aim of training scholars who are able to do research as well as analyze non-Islamic ideologies in the field of social sciences. The scholars should be able to successfully confront diversions and revisionist ideologies in any period of history. Moreover, upon completion of their research studies, they should have the ability to teach social sciences at the theological schools and universities within and outside the country. Also, they should be capable of managing and executing the administrative affairs of the cultural centers.

Organizational Structure

The Imam Khomeini Educational and Research Institute consists of the management, academic department, research department, Cultural Deputies and the Administrative and Financial Department.

Management of the Institute

The presidency and management of the Institute has been entrusted to Ayatollah Muhammad Taqi Mesbah Yazdi who was appointed to this position by a special degree of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution of Iran.

Introducing the Educational Groups

The department head responsible for education is responsible for supervising the proper execution of the educational activities, and for planning the academic courses of the Institute. Courses which have been approved by the Higher Council of the Cultural Revolution, include three courses which lead to the post-graduate degree in theology and Islamic studies, post-graduate specialization and doctoral specialization leading to the Ph.D. degree respectively. An officially recognized degree is conferred on students who successfully complete the respective course of study leading to the related degrees.