About

We are an independent and international network of Iranian academics and students. Our primary objective is to provide a community and a platform to serve the interests of academics of Iranian heritage around the world.

We strongly believe in and advocate for freedom of information, opinion, and expression.

ICOIA was founded in October 2022 as an entirely volunteer-run organization by a group of Iranian academics in North America, Europe, and Australasia.

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed by ICOIA and its members are solely their own and do not express the views or opinions of their employers.

Meet some of our members

Encieh Erfani

Elnaz Irannezhad

Encieh Erfani

Assistant Professor (resigned in protest) of the Physics Department at the IASBS, Iran.

Negar Partow

Elnaz Irannezhad

Encieh Erfani

Senior Lecturer in Security Studies, School of People, Environment and Planning, Massey University, New Zealand

Elnaz Irannezhad

Masoud Ghodrat Abadi

Senior Lecturer in Transport Engineering and Australian Human Rights Institute Associate, University of New South Wales, Australia

Masoud Ghodrat Abadi

Assistant professor of Civil Engineering at California State University, Sacramento, USA

Shima Taheri

Masoud Ghodrat Abadi

M.Reza Hosseini

Senior Research Fellow, School of Engineering, Macquarie University, Australia

M.Reza Hosseini

Masoud Ghodrat Abadi

M.Reza Hosseini

Associate Head, School of Architecture and Built Environment, Deakin University, Australia

Maryam Moridnejad

Principle Academic Staff Member and Programme Coordinator (Civil Eng.), Centre for Engineering and Industrial Design, Waikato Institute of Technology, New Zealand

Saeed Banihashemi

Maryam Moridnejad

Associate Professor and Postgraduate Program Director, School of Design & Built Environment, University of Canberra, Australia

Rana Dadpour

Maryam Moridnejad

Rana Dadpour

PIA (Assoc.),Tropical Urbanism and Design Lab, James Cook University, Australia

Arash Lashgari

Asal Bidarmaghz

Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair in Cybersecurity, York University, Toronto, Canada

Asal Bidarmaghz

Senior Lecturer in Geotechnical Engineering and Australian Human Rights Institute Associate, University of New South Wales, Australia

Ehsan Sharifi

Asal Bidarmaghz

Alireza Pourreza

Senior Lecturer, School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, University of Adelaide, Australia

Alireza Pourreza

Assistant Professor of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of California Davis, USA

Mona Parizadeh

Alireza Pourreza

Mona Parizadeh

Postdoctoral Associate, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada

Shahin Kamali

Alireza Pourreza

Mona Parizadeh

Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, York University, Canada

Mohammad Jabbari

Assistant Professor, Department of Management Information Systems, FSA ULaval, Canada

Mitra Naseh

Mohammad Jabbari

Assistant Professor and Research Director of Initiative on Social Work and Forced Migration, Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis, USA

Ali Arab

Mohammad Jabbari

Ali Arab

Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Georgetown University, USA

Farshid Nowrouzi Roshnavand

Assistant Professor of English Literature (expelled from Mazandaran University for supporting protesting students)

Sara Rouhani

Farshid Nowrouzi Roshnavand

Assistant Professor, Faculty of Computer Science, University of Manitoba, Canada

Farhad Maleki

Farshid Nowrouzi Roshnavand

Pejman Sharafi

Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science, University of Calgary, Canada

Pejman Sharafi

Behnam Sadeghirad

Pejman Sharafi

Associate Professor and head of Modular Prefab Design Laboratory, Western Sydney University, Australia

Golrokh Kiani

Behnam Sadeghirad

Research Assistant and Lecturer, University of Quebec at Montreal, Canada

Behnam Sadeghirad

Assistant Professor, Department of Anesthesia and Health Research, McMaster University, Canada

Terms of Reference

General terms

Following are the ICOIA Terms of References that are unanimously agreed by the founding members:

The work of the ICOIA is driven by the professional needs of Iranian academics, providing a community and platform for serving the interests of Iranian academics around the world.
The prime objective of the ICOIA is assisting Iranian academics inside and outside Iran. The ICOIA strongly believes in and advocates for freedom of information, opinion, and expression.
The ICOIA organisation structure assumes a semi-structuralist shape rather than taking a minimalist approach. Consequently, the Terms of Reference are being established, along with a nominal structure and rules of engagement.
The ICOIA assumes an expansive and inclusive approach to membership growth, but implementation of this growth will be incremental.
When pursuing its broader objectives, the ICOIA seeks to align its policies with similar efforts by other like-minded academic groups.
While the ICOIA will maintain its independence and impartiality, contributions and support from other academic associations are welcome.

Mission

The ICOIA seeks to

Improve access to reliable news, data, and information about Iranian academics and students as well as raising awareness of the various issues facing the academic community in Iran and around the world.
Offer independent information and advice on various professional aspects affecting Iranian scholars.
Offer consultancy, specific to the needs of Iranian scholars including students, researchers and faculty members.
Offer support and help to all scholars at risks, particularly the Iranian scholars.
Encourage and facilitate the inclusion of Iranian scholars in professional organisations and activities.
Promote professional gatherings and workshops to raise awareness and affect public policies and perceptions in the interests of Iranian academics.
Encourage information exchange across the network of Iranian scholars.
Provide a sense of community in which Iranian academics can exchange scholarly interests and expertise.
Aid Iranian scholars by collecting and sharing organisational experience and by publicising their work.

Membership

Membership is open to all academics of Iranian heritage from all disciplines at various levels, including those in part-time, full-time and casual roles as well as students in various degrees and courses in higher education institutions, subject to an appropriate verification process.
The ICOIA is led by a volunteer group of directors, elected by ICOIA members.

Leadership

The Executive Committee is responsible for setting the overall agenda and direction of the workplans of the Executive Committee. They will be responsible for driving consensus and representing the members and for coordinating and aligning efforts in support of the community missions.
The Executive Committee members are elected by the General Assembly (members) every six months. Nomination is open to all members.
The overall term of the executive committee is six months, effective from the establishment of the first committee on 24 November 2022.
The members of the Executive Committee are expected to participate in all weekly virtual meetings. The Executive Committee will be in regular contact with other members through email or social media communication. Additional meetings (if required) will be scheduled at the discretion of the Executive Committee Leadership but in consultation with Executive Committee members.
The Executive Committee appoints the chair of Working Groups, and the responsible Chair will coordinate closely with the Executive Committee in carrying out the identified work plans relevant to each Working Groups.
Decision-making at the Executive Committee is based on consensus or in the absence of a consensus, on the majority perspective of the Executive Committee members who are present in meetings and calls. Items for discussion are sent ahead of any meetings. Anyone who is not present for a meeting or teleconference is invited to express their views via the relevant communication channels.

Policy of non-discrimination

We do not discriminate based on race, creed, ancestry, marital status, gender, sexual orientation, age, physical disability, veteran status, political service or affiliation, religion, or national origin.