Shiraz University, established in 1946 in Shiraz, Iran, stands as one of the nation's oldest, most prestigious, and top-tier research-oriented public universities. Initially founded as a technical college, it rapidly expanded to achieve university status in 1954, then named Pahlavi University, and pioneered the establishment of doctoral programs in Iran.

A pivotal development occurred in 1960 when Mohammad Reza Pahlavi invited University of Pennsylvania President Gaylord P. Harnwell to transform the university into an American-style institution. This deep collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania, and later Kent State University, profoundly shaped its academic and administrative systems. Consequently, Pahlavi University became the first Iranian university to receive international-level accreditation for its degrees. Today, operating as Shiraz University, it continues to be a leading academic institution, serving over 20,000 students across a comprehensive range of bachelor's, master's, and PhD programs.