The History and an Overview of BIHE

The Baháʼí Institute for Higher Education (BIHE) was created in 1987 by members of the Baháʼí community in Iran as a direct response to the expulsion of Baháʼí students and educators from Iranian universities. With the help of the community's ex-professors, lecturers, researchers and professionals, the Baháʼí community of Iran decided to establish an institution of higher learning for Baháʼí students' education and training. BIHE was established on the basis of sacrifice and volunteerism. Classes and laboratories were held in Baháʼí homes and basements. In a vast majority of cases, instructors and administrators worked without compensation, and students travelled from city to city to attend classes.

In 2005, an online component was added to the face-to-face mode in order to enhance the learning environment's quality and reach. As a consequence of this effort, BIHE has been able to offer over 1050 courses in biology, applied chemistry, pharmaceutical sciences, computer sciences, civil engineering, architecture, mathematics, Persian literature and culture, Arabic, library sciences, English literature and linguistics, business management and accounting, law, sociology, and psychology. Under repressive conditions, BIHE has remained committed to adhere to the highest levels of academic standards and render its educational operations comparable to and compatible with the standards that animate the world's finest universities. BIHE applicants must conform to the same rigorous academic standards as other students in Iran. They must pass the national entrance exam and meet all BIHE academic requirements.

As a consequence of its commitment to excellence, graduates of BIHE have been accepted at graduate (Masters and Ph.D.) programs of more than 114 prestigious universities outside of Iran. Throughout its short history, BIHE has encouraged and supported scholarly standards of discourse. No courses have ever promoted a partisan political agenda. All of the content, discussions, and assignments have remained within the well-established parameters of their respective academic disciplines' best theories and practices. Although BIHE has been a Baháʼí-inspired institution, it has never assumed the nature of a seminary. The practice of BIHE has been scientific in its method and rational in its approach to scholarly inquiry. A commitment to objectivity has been a part of its modus operandi.

A Graduation Ceremony - December 2001

Microbiology Lab - Spring 1995