Meeting Prof. Ural Akbulut, Coordinator of URAP Research Laboratory and the pertaining presiding board on 13 May 2014, Dr. Nekoofar explained the activities of TUMS Office of Vice Chancellor for Global Strategies and International Affairs and elaborated on the process of TUMS ranking.

Prof. Ural Akbulut also expressed happiness over TUMS interest in mutual cooperation and asserted that URAP Research Laboratory is affilated to Informatics Institute of Middle East Technical University. Extracting data for ranking is carried out based on academic performance and in accordance with the data extracted from Web of Science, he added.  He further explained the method of weighting ranking indicators and establishment history of the Laboratory in details, saying that the process of new ranking system based on which the countries are ranked according to their academic performance is completed and will be published soon.  The official went on to say that each scientific paper which is published by a scientist in a country will affect rank of the said country regarding its academic performance.  Primary results of the ranking system indicates that Islamic Republic of Iran stands in 34^th ranking position worldwide regarding production of science, he added.

After learning about the Laboratory’s activities at the end of meeting, Dr. Nekoofar officially invited Prof. Ural Akbulut to visit TUMS and have a meeting with those in charge for the purpose of expanding international collaboration in various fields particulaly in the field of TUMS ranking. Prof. Akbulut kindly accepted joining TUMS Ranking Advisory Board therefore, necessary measures will be taken for the membership in his first journey to Iran.