Expansion of Access to Higher Education

There is an over whelming social demand for higher education in Iran. despite its rapid expansion after the Islamic Revolution(l 979), and a rate of growth of capacity of higher education system, the current system is not yet responsive to the tremendous demand. Major strategies that led to the aforementioned results were encouraging private sector to invest in higher education and utilization of alternative modes such as distance and corresspondence education. 
Country's development in cultural; scientific and economic aspects is deemed impossible withot further expansion of higher education. Therefore, "expansion of access to higher education" has become the focus of attention in a national scale project which serves as an integral part of a larger project scheme having "scientific and technological development" as it's long term end-in-view. The impetus for this particalar project is generated not only by the current imbalance between supply and demand in this area, but is further intensified by realizing that the social demand will increase and the gap will be widened in the future. In other words, continuation of current trends and regularities in the realm of higher education will lead to grave concerns and consequences and should, therefore, be treated as a delicate and critical national priority. A thorough investigation of current state of affairs along with identification of factors which has historically debilitated the expansion of higher education, is the first order of business in this proJect. 
Additionally, the strategies employed by countries with records of achievement in this respect will be studied to gain further insight, to establish benchmarks, and to devise appropriate strategies responsive to the socio-cultural-economic context of lran.