The key objectives are as follows:
- Leveraging the capabilities and resources of the member universities for mutual benefit, including research facilities, experimental capabilities, international connectivity, and physical infrastructure.
- Fostering scientific and cultural partnerships on a national and global scale.
- Enhancing the international rankings of the member universities sustainably.
- Enhancing organizational structures through shared experiences among the member institutions.
- Facilitating educational exchange programs and increasing the enrollment of international students.
- Collaborating on international branding and marketing strategies.
- Coordinating joint international scientific conferences, workshops, and establishing scientific associations.
- Sharing amenities to accommodate international delegations.
- Offering interdisciplinary programs and utilizing university resources for teaching and supervising research.
- Facilitating visits to laboratories and research units to foster joint international collaborations.
- Collaborating on authoring and publishing international scientific books and journals.
- Developing joint promotional materials for international exhibitions.
- Gathering insights on scientific research priorities from Contracting Countries to Iran through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and devising cooperative strategies with their higher education institutions.
- Arranging scientific and cultural competitions and student excursions with partner countries in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Isfahan province.
One significant ongoing venture of the IUN consortium is the "Diplomat Citizen" project, which entails a collaboration with the Municipality of Isfahan. Initiated in 2020 within the General Department of Communications and International Affairs at Isfahan Municipality, the project aims to achieve five main objectives:
- Enhancing communication with foreign partner cities.
- Identifying facilitators of citizenship engagement.
- Cultivating economic and scientific partnerships with a focus on Isfahan's private sectors and universities.
- Strengthening interactions with the national diplomatic framework.
- Instilling international knowledge, skills, and attitudes across all sectors of the province.
The "Diplomat Citizen" initiative aims to promote city twinning relationships by engaging civic facilitators such as business leaders, academics, students, cultural influencers, and media professionals. These stakeholders are provided with platforms and channels to showcase and reinforce Isfahan's reputation, brand, and capabilities in partner cities and their respective countries. Collaborating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, IUN, and Isfahan Chamber of Commerce, the General Department of Communications and International Affairs at Isfahan Municipality leads this initiative as the primary intellectual and operational force, conducting a series of meetings focusing on each of the 13 sister cities of Isfahan.