According to numerous and harrowing reports and testimonies, government forces in recent weeks have carried out an unprecedented and bloody crackdown on protesters—one that, based on available evidence, has resulted in the killing of thousands and represents one of the most severe violations of the right to life in Iran’s contemporary history.

Alongside this widespread killing, thousands have been arrested, giving rise to profound concern for their fate. This concern has intensified in light of explicit statements by officials of the Islamic Republic’s judiciary regarding the attribution of the charge of “moharebeh” (waging war against God) to protesters—a charge that, under Iran’s domestic laws, can lead to death sentences.

Simultaneously, the Iranian government has imposed the longest, most extensive, and most targeted nationwide internet shutdown, effectively cutting off large segments of society and citizens from the outside world for more than a week. This digital blackout shows no signs of easing or ending; on the contrary, available evidence indicates escalating and increasingly sophisticated restrictions.

At a time when nearly all domestic communications infrastructures have been rendered inoperative, satellite internet—particularly Starlink—has become one of the last remaining, albeit limited and accessible to only a few, channels of connection to the outside world. Reports nevertheless indicate that the Iranian government is actively seeking to identify, disrupt, block, and target satellite internet equipment.

Beyond the digital sphere, alarming reports have emerged of organized actions by government forces to conduct door-to-door searches and confiscate satellite television equipment. Satellite television—especially under conditions of internet shutdown—remains among the few sources through which people can access non-state news and information.

Taken together—from the mass killing of protesters to the comprehensive communications blackout and the elimination of information channels—these measures indicate a deliberate move toward the consolidation of extreme authoritarianism and a pattern of total information isolation akin to the North Korean model. This trajectory stands in complete contradiction to international human rights commitments, fundamental freedoms, and academic freedom.

ISSH calls on the global academic community, scholarly institutions, academic associations, and relevant international organizations to take these widespread and systematic violations seriously; to condemn them; to work for the immediate halt to the issuance and implementation of death sentences and for the unconditional release of political prisoners and protest detainees; and to provide effective support for the right to education, free access to information, and the physical security of students and citizens in Iran.

ISSH declares its solidarity with students and people who are standing up for the right to life, freedom, and human dignity, and reaffirms its enduring commitment to defending academic freedom and fundamental human rights.

We published a new post outlining a structured scholarship initiative designed for philanthropists and individual donors who want to make a direct and measurable impact on the lives of talented, motivated students who otherwise lack access to graduate education.

The program offers multiple giving options—named scholarships, one-year sponsorships, and anonymous support—each built around dignity, security, and clear student transformation. Full-year support is set at €3,000, with flexible payment options including monthly contributions of €250. Trust.Education handles academic selection, secure matching, and respects student privacy and consent at every stage.

Read the full details and ways you can engage here:

Read the full text here

My academic life began at Tehran University, but the hierarchical and restrictive educational system there became quickly irritating for me. It was during this time that a close friend introduced me to the Institute for Social Sciences and Humanities (ISSH). Immediately, I recognized it as the progressive alternative I needed. I was deeply drawn to the program because it hosted many of the Iranian intellectuals whose pioneering ideas I already followed. Without hesitation, I applied.

The Foundation of Integrity and Excellence

The ISSH gave me the platform to pursue a challenging and vital piece of research: my Master’s thesis on “Daula and ’Umran: The Political and Economic Origins of Environmental and Geographical Determinism in Ibn Khaldun’s Thought.” Under the dedicated supervision of Dr. Mohammad Reza Nikfar, this experience was defined by intellectual rigor and professional support from the entire administrative team. My work did not just survive; it thrived. The thesis received the highest grade (95 out of 100) and earned the distinction of Cum Laude, marking the beginning of my true academic trajectory.

The Catalyst for International Success

The success at ISSH was not an end, but a powerful catalyst. Backed by the rigorous review of my committee referees, Dr. Ali Banuazizi and Dr. Nayereh Tohidi, my thesis quickly transitioned to the international stage. It was presented at academic conferences and it is currently slated for publication by Iran Academia University Press.

Crucially, this foundation allowed me to successfully relocate to the Netherlands, where I secured a Research Fellowship at the International Institute of Social History (IISH), and later, earned a full scholarship to pursue my MA in Gender Studies at Utrecht University.

Our Shared Responsibility

The ISSH has been the touchstone of my academic life—a precious space where I was empowered to hope, resist, and forge meaningful intellectual friendships. I will never forget the immense support I received, particularly from and , and I will always be under their debt. I know my story is one of many. Countless Iranian students have found their voice and academic future through the ISSH. Supporting the ISSH is not charity; it is a critical investment in intellectual freedom and a commitment to ensuring that the next generation of Iranian students and scholars can truly flourish.

Dear friends,

When we give, we choose a cause where our contribution creates a clear and immediate impact. Education—real, uncensored, life-changing and transformative education for those deprived of it—is one of the few places where every act of giving becomes measurable in a human life.

At ISSH, we are preparing to welcome the 2026–27 cohort: 150 students, most of whom have faced censorship, deprivation, and risk simply for wanting to learn. For them, academic freedom is not an abstract ideal—it is a lifeline. And we are determined not to let this light turn off.

This Giving Tuesday, I ask you to stand with us. Choose one of the three pathways of contribution—each powerful, each meaningful, none insignificant:

1. If you cannot give financially, give by sharing.

Forward this message to one person who believes in academic freedom. One share can reach the person who keeps this institution alive for another year. No contribution is more valuable than expanding the circle of people who care.

2. If you can give a small amount, give without hesitation.

Every single donation directly sustains our operations and keeps our classrooms open. Many small contributions together allow us to resist the pressures that silence and isolate at-risk learners.

3. If you have the capacity to sponsor a student, transform a life and facilitate many open doors for these at-risk students.

– €3,333 covers a full one-year scholarship for a student who cannot otherwise study.
– €6,666 supports a two-year student—often someone in a dire situation who needs more time to finish safely and successfully.
Your support ensures they receive high-quality, uncensored education and the opportunities that follow graduation, opened opportunities for them to enhance their career as high quality researchers and experts.

This is one of the rare moments where the impact is fully tangible. Your gift—large or small—directly safeguards academic freedom and opens a path forward for learners who have been deprived for far too long.

• Watch our 2-minute overview:

• Read stories of impact:

Trust Education (ISSH)

In Education We Trust!

By Trust.Education (ISSH Inc)

• Learn more about our history and mission: https://trust.education/about/history

Make a Donation Now

If you are a philanthropist or know one who might be interested, this is the link to the ways to give: https://trust.education/category/w2g/

On behalf of our entire team, faculty, volunteers, and community, I extend our deepest gratitude.
Give what you can. Share if you cannot. Every contribution keeps this mission alive.

With respect,
Ali Reza Kazemi
Co-Founder and Managing Director
Institute for Social Sciences & Humanities (ISSH) / Trust.Education

In open societies, we often take the syllabus for granted. We view a university classroom as a given space for debate, where ideas clash, evolve, and refine one another. But in Iran, and many authoritarian contexts, education exists under a heavy, pervasive weight: the shadow of censorship.

It is not just about redacted books. It is about the “internalized guardrails”, the questions a student is afraid to ask, the topics a professor knows to skip, and the constant, low-level anxiety that intellectual curiosity might be interpreted as a political crime.

At ISSH Graduate School (Academia) our mission has always been to provide an alternative: a digital geography where that shadow does not exist. But describing “freedom” is abstract until you hear it from someone who has crossed that border.

We recently received a testimonial from an alumnus of the ISSH Graduate School that stopped us in our tracks. It vividly captures the transition from a monitored education to a liberated one.

“A Space Built on Dialogue”

Here is the full story from Hadi Miri Ashtiani, shared in his own words:

“Before joining ISSH Graduate School (Academia), I had known about it for years. It was always something I intended to pursue someday. But life, work, and other academic obligations kept pushing that plan further into the future. When I finally enrolled, the experience turned out to be unlike anything I had previously encountered in academic spaces. It not only challenged what I thought a university could be, but also reshaped how I understand knowledge, power, and the role of critical thinking.

Perhaps the most striking difference was the freedom. At ISSH Graduate School, I encountered an uncensored and open engagement with the social sciences and humanities, something virtually impossible inside Iran. There, censorship touches everything: research topics, syllabi, classroom conversations, even the tone of academic writing. It is always present, sometimes blatant, sometimes internalized, sometimes imposed, sometimes simply feared. But always there.

In contrast, ISSH Graduate School offered something rare: a space built on dialogue, intellectual honesty, and critical inquiry. That’s not to say critical thought doesn’t exist in Iran, on the contrary, there are bold scholars, unwavering intellectuals and activists, powerful texts, courageous initiatives. But all of it exists under the shadow of censorship. ISSH Graduate School showed me what happens when that shadow is lifted.“

—Hadi Miri Ashtiani

The People Behind the Infrastructure

What strikes us most about this reflection isn’t just the relief of escaping censorship; it is the recognition of the human labor required to maintain a free space.

Institutions are often faceless, but a charity like ours is built on the backs of specific, dedicated individuals. The student continues:

“Another defining part of my experience was the people. The sincerity and dedication of those behind ISSH Graduate School was unlike anything I’d seen. stands out as one of the most committed individuals I’ve encountered, always available, always listening, always doing the quiet, difficult work that keeps everything running. You often find yourself wondering: how does he carry so much care? is just the same, constantly envisioning new directions, new possibilities, always building. And the entire team embodies this spirit: welcoming, responsive, and unburdened by institutional ego. ISSH Graduate School feels like a community, not a bureaucracy.”

—Hadi Miri Ashtiani

A Democratic Academic Space

True education requires more than just books; it requires a culture of mutual respect. Hadi, highlighted the specific faculty members who make this culture a reality:

“The faculty, Nayereh Tohidi, Saeed Paivandi, Mohammad Reza Nikfar, Zeynab Peyghambarzadeh, Kazem Alamdari, and others offered a vision of academia grounded in mutual respect and collaboration. In place of hierarchy, there was dialogue. In place of distance, curiosity. Their approach to teaching reflected a different way of being an academic, one that is not only more human, but more intellectually honest.

ISSH Graduate School (Academia) also brought together people from remarkably diverse backgrounds to learn, teach, question, and collaborate. It was a democratic academic space in the truest sense: independent, inclusive, supportive of research in one’s mother tongue, and genuinely committed to free and accessible education...

For me, being part of Academia was an invaluable opportunity. I found a space where learning felt real, where conversations mattered, and where community wasn’t just a word but a practice.”

—Hadi Miri Ashtiani

Help Us Do “The Quiet, Difficult Work”

Hadi Miri Ashtiani’s testimonial reminds us that intellectual independence isn’t a luxury; for many, it is oxygen.

When you support ISSH (Trust.Education), you aren’t just funding a website or a course. You are supporting the “quiet, difficult work” that Ali, Sajad, Asefeh, Hani, Dara, Golsa, Elly, Zeynab and many more and our faculty do every day. You are ensuring that when a student logs on from a place where thoughts are policed, they find a community where the shadow is lifted and the lights are on.

We are a charity, and a 501(c)3 foundation, and we rely on the support of those who believe that critical thinking is a cornerstone of a free society.

If this student’s journey resonates with you, please consider becoming a sustaining partner of our work. Your contribution ensures that the next student who is waiting to start the next cohort of the graduate school finds the doors open, the syllabus uncensored, and the community waiting.

I would like to dedicate this piece, first of all, to Mr. Ali Reza Kazemi, the Managing Director of ISSH, whose leadership made this path possible. I am equally indebted to all the professors and instructors whose labour sustains this vital academic space. In particular, I want to express my profound gratitude to Dr. Mohammad Reza Nikfar, Dr. Saeed Peivandi, and Dr. Zeynab Peyghambarzadeh, whose teaching, mentorship, and intellectual generosity profoundly shaped my academic journey and my understanding of emancipation.

—Amin Moussavi Nezhad
PhD Student in Political Science at the University of Alberta

When I reflect on the trajectory of my life — from arrest in the midst of the Woman, Life, Freedom movement, to release on bail, to this moment as a PhD student in Political Science at the University of Alberta — I realize that what sustained me was not merely hope, but an experience of emancipation. Not the abstract emancipation often invoked in theory, but a concrete, tangible emancipation: intellectual, existential, and deeply personal.

My interest in social sciences was never just academic curiosity. It was a desire, perhaps even a need, to understand power, injustice, and liberation. But for me, pursuing that path in Iran was effectively closed. When I was detained, and later released under surveillance, I thought the door had slammed shut forever. It felt like my academic dream had been crushed under the heavy weight of repression and fear.

Yet at that very rupture, the Institute for Social Sciences and Humanities (ISSH) entered my life. Its free Master’s program in Social Studies was not just a program; it was a lifeline. It was a signal; that even in confinement, knowledge can flow; that even when a regime tries to silence us, we can still learn, think, and imagine otherwise.

Emancipation as Intellectual Freedom

In my research, I draw on the critical theory notion of emancipation in two senses. First, as the liberation of the self from dominating social structures; second, as the expansion of one’s capacity to act meaningfully in the world. The ISSH program embodied both.

Academia in authoritarian contexts often means self-censorship, silence, and fear. But the ISSH program offered courses that were uncensored, critical, and fearless. It challenged us to think about power, identity, inequality; not as abstract, academic problems, but as lived, urgent realities. For someone like me, who had just tasted repression, this was more than theory; it was therapeutic, empowering, and subversive.

Through readings, discussions, and writing, I found that emancipation was not only a conceptual ideal — it was a claim I could stake for myself. I could refuse to be defined by the identity imposed on me by the state. I could reclaim my subjectivity, my dignity, my voice.

Emancipation as Existential and Psychological Survival

Beyond intellectual freedom, the ISSH program offered what I lacked most after my arrest: a sense of belonging and purpose. Detained persons are often reduced to numbers, to “cases,” to problems. Survivors are often haunted by shame, fear, and isolation. For me, ISSH was a space of restoration.

I reconnected with a world of ideas, of solidarity, of possibility. I met peers who understood what it meant to struggle, to risk, to hope. Each essay I wrote, each discussion I joined, was a small act of defiance; against despair, against erasure, against the silence the regime wanted to impose.

In that program, emancipation meant survival. Not just bodily survival, but the survival of my inner life: my sense of dignity, my right to think, to critique, to dream.

From Emancipated Thought to Transformative Action

Completing the ISSH Master’s was transformative. It awakened in me not only academic ambition, but also a moral and political vocation. It was the bridge that allowed me to imagine a future beyond confinement and statelessness.

Because ISSH kept the flame of critical social thought alive in me, I could survive the transition, the migration, the losses. More than that: I could carry with me a commitment: that knowledge should remain uncensored, accessible, free, especially for those deprived of it.

Now, as a PhD student, I study political structures, power relations, and the meaning of emancipation itself. But I also carry within me an embodied memory of what it is to be silenced, and what it is to be heard again. That tension shapes my scholarship, guides my questions, and fuels my determination to produce knowledge that is not just academically rigorous, but socially meaningful, morally resonant, and politically emancipatory.

Why Such Stories Matter — For Academia and Emancipation

Personal testimonies like mine are not just stories. They are proof that emancipation is not merely theoretical. It is a living possibility. When an institution like ISSH provides free, uncensored education to those excluded from it, it demonstrates that emancipation is not a privilege — it can be a right.

In contexts where power seeks to dominate not only bodies but minds, where regimes police thoughts as much as actions; free, online, uncensored education becomes resistance. It becomes survival. It becomes the planting of a seed that may one day grow into a forest of critical thinkers, dissenters, activists, builders of more just societies.

My journey did not end with hope. It did not end with triumph. It continues as emancipation: an ongoing process of thinking, acting, resisting, and rebuilding.

Hope is a dangerous emotion. It has hurt me -so much- to hope and be disappointed; so, I try not to hope.

We live in systems that tend to marginalize good and amplify evil; crisis after crisis unfold before our eyes, and as the supposedly most powerful species to live on this Earth, with innovations that have transformed everything in this world, we still seem incapable of transforming the very systems we have created.

Effort and outcome are not proportionate in this world. It takes SO much energy to achieve the smallest amount of good, which can then slip away -revert back- so easily in the blink of an eye.

There is a Persian saying, “To want something is to be able to do it”; it’s meant to emphasize the power of will. I find it to be -frankly- bullshit! It completely ignores all structures of power that shape our lives; I find it disrespectful to the millions who have wanted and not been able to.

All this is to clarify my position on grand solutions: I do not believe in them. I’ve come to accept that we might not be powerful enough, even in our greatest numbers, to make things sustainably better. I do not believe in an imminent triumph, but I’ve also learned that victory is not the most important thing: resistance is.

Resistance is refusing to abandon the turf despite knowing you might very well lose.

Resistance is holding your head up high as you watch them crush your goals.

Resistance is not giving up your seat even though the table is being destroyed.

Resistance is prioritizing your values in a valueless world.

Resistance is knowing that 2 + 2 = 4.

Resistance is holding on to a vision of good, of utopia, of a better tomorrow. You don’t have to hope it will be realized, you don’t have to believe it’s feasible, you just have to know that there is another way, because no matter how hopeless we are, there is only one sure way to guarantee that a better tomorrow will never arrive: and that is not knowing it could.

What has this gotten to do with ISSH?

ISSH is the epitome of resistance.

It is created by people who embody resistance: refusing to be silenced or marginalized and creating a way for knowledge to flow across the borders of oppression and for alternative voices to be amplified.

It features people who embody resistance: coming together from around the world to declare a commitment to knowledge, freedom, and possibilities of better tomorrows.

It is also the embodiment of what resistance could achieve: an institution born from an unorthodox vision challenging the rules and structures of this world, and yet enduring and expanding for 12 years, producing and disseminating knowledge in service of the community.

Resistance is power because it is non-sensical and irrational. Homo economicus would not stare in the face of oppression and keep building a house that is constantly destroyed.

Resistance is power because it confuses the powerful: if you keep doing what you do despite their best efforts to shut you down, you must be very strong, dangerously strong: because it takes extraordinary strength to hold your empty fist up in the air for a long time, more than it would to lift a heavy weight for a short while.

That’s how ISSH, an educational institution small in its size and stretched in its resources (two things that have never held it back from pulling off mighty projects), is deemed powerful enough by a militarized authoritarian regime to be an agent of a “soft overthrow” plot.

Resistance can muster up enough strength to scare the most powerful, and ISSH exemplifies this in the best possible way.

So, resistance is impactful regardless of the outcome. It is its persistence that contributes to its impact, and I want to ask you to support ISSH and its persisting resistance.

I’ve tried to appeal to the hopeless of the world in this rant because I know what it feels like to crawl back into the personal sphere as the social one seems daunting, I know the ache of not being powerful enough to make things better, but we are still powerful enough to hold down small forts in some corners of the world, making sure our vision is protected, so that if there ever exists a space for it to be realized, it is remembered.

If you don’t think a better day will come, that is ok. If you are not sure we can ever win, I share your doubt. But let us protect the possibility, let us breathe life into this glorious project of resistance, let us make sure ISSH is preserved as a space for dreamers, let us resist the erasure of alternative ways.

This is personal to me, and I call on you to stand with us. What that means is:

- Donating if you can, and/or

- Sharing our messages,

- Introducing ISSH to others (or first better familiarizing yourself with it by reading about its history), and

- Inviting philanthropists (and potential philanthropists, aka any rich people around you) to consider donating to our cause.

I know we may not win,

But let us resist,

And join our resistance!

The Strategic Importance of IAC/DEAI

The International Accreditation Council (IAC/EADI) is a premier and rigorous body in higher education quality assurance, focusing on academic standards, institutional transparency, and social impact. Entering this council’s evaluation process involves being subjected to the most precise managerial, educational, and research assessments.

The acceptance of ISSH by this council signifies the alignment of the Institute’s infrastructure and vision with global standards and serves as a seal of approval on the path this institution has traversed over the past 13 years, despite all difficulties.

ISSH: A Pioneer in Breaking the Boundaries of the “Impossible”

This is the first time that a fully online, alternative university has successfully surpassed conventional barriers to enter such a high-level accreditation process. ISSH, a Dutch-based Educational Foundation, is set to become the first online higher education institution to offer degrees with Double Qualification, on par with the standards of the most prestigious international universities.

While ISSH operates as a multilingual institution, it holds a unique distinction in serving diverse populations, including the Persian-speaking community worldwide. Its flagship graduate program, which has been tuition-free since its inception, has successfully completed 10 cohorts and is currently commencing its 11th cohort.

The program has already been classified and qualified at Level 7 of the European Qualifications Framework (EQF), equivalent to a Master’s degree in the European higher education system, since 2016. However, this prospective accreditation represents a greater leap toward global formalization and the institutionalization of this educational structure.

Placing ISSH Among the World’s Best

This accreditation (often recognized as IAC/EADI in Europe) is highly prestigious and primarily focuses on the quality of “Development Studies” programs. Many of the world’s top universities leading in social sciences and development have received this quality mark.

Placing the name ISSH alongside these universities demonstrates the significant academic weight of this achievement. Below is a list of some of the most important universities worldwide that have received this accreditation for their programs:

• Institute of Development Studies (IDS) - University of Sussex, UK: Holds the World #1 rank in Development Studies (surpassing Harvard and Oxford in QS rankings).

• International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) - Erasmus University Rotterdam, Netherlands: One of the oldest and most prestigious centers for critical development studies in Europe.

• University of Amsterdam, Netherlands: A top research university whose “International Development” program holds this accreditation.

• University of East London, UK: Recognized for its NGO and Development Management program.

• Radboud University, Netherlands: Accredited for advanced International Development programs.

• Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU): A leader in environmental studies and sustainable development.

• Universidad de los Andes, Colombia: One of South America’s best universities with extremely rigorous standards.

• Palacký University, Czech Republic: One of Central Europe’s oldest and most prestigious universities.

13 Years of Resilience: From “Dreaming” to Reality

Reaching this position is the fruit of 13 years of continuous activity and persistence in principles that many considered impossible. Throughout these years, spanning 10 full academic cohorts, ISSH faced skeptical gazes. Many observers including scholars and academics in diaspora called the idea of establishing a tuition-free, online alternative university with global standards “idealistic,” “far from reality,” and “impossible,” refusing to support it.

Yet, in the face of this disbelief, a small but steadfast group stood firm. Today’s success is owed to the sacrifices and selflessness of a small but agile team, distinguished faculty, committed volunteers, and allies who believed in this vision. Without the day-and-night efforts and sacrifice of these noble individuals, traversing this tumultuous path and reaching the gates of international accreditation would never have been possible.

The Horizon Ahead and a Call to Action

In the coming months, ISSH will undergo multiple precise stages of institutional evaluation, including curriculum review, quality assurance processes, and learning outcome assessments. This process provides an opportunity for institutional reflection and the strengthening of a university that aims to be a resonant voice in the academic world.

While expressing gratitude to all those who stayed with this project during these hard years, ISSH invites all philanthropists, supporters of thought, and scholars concerned with free and quality education to join this impactful and high-potential mission, in particular its endowment project. Today, it is proven that what was once called “impossible” is now a growing and proud reality. We ask you to donate to ISSH or join the long-term legacy building endowment program at https://trust.educaton.

We hope that with the finalization of this accreditation, a new chapter will open in empowering the scientific and intellectual community, especially for those who, for various reasons, have been deprived of continuing their higher education.

In Education We Trust

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Join the endowment

Spread the word of knowledge

What is Trust Education (ISSH)?

At its core, Trust Education is a non-profit educational vehicle: an organization structured as a 501(c)(3) so that public support translates directly into educational activities, not profit. Under U.S. tax law, this status means the organization is recognized as “organized and operated exclusively for … educational purposes” and eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions. (IRS)
In practice, this means Trust Education mobilizes funds, networks, research and delivery around education and civic engagement via ISSH’s work—and because of its tax-exempt status, its accountability and transparency standards are elevated.

Why is this important now?

We live in a moment of compounding crises:

• Many non-profits and civic initiatives are being squeezed: funding is tighter, public grants are shrinking, and volunteerism is more difficult to sustain.

• At the same time, the educational landscape, particularly civic, social sciences and humanities education, is under strain. Trust (in systems, institutions, educational processes) is eroding globally. (Oxford Research Encyclopedias)

• Moreover, when an initiative bears the legal status of a 501(c)(3), it invites public investment. Donors, institutions and individuals know that contributions are tax-deductible, and that the organization operates within a regulatory framework that demands public disclosure, mission alignment and accountability. (IRS)

In short: supporting Trust Education means investing in an entity designed for impact, not profit—and one that is legally and operationally configured to channel resources into meaningful educational work.

Why this kind of education?

With budget cuts, program cancellations and shifting donor priorities, many educational and civic programs are being deferred or abandoned. Yet precisely during such times the need for robust civic education, critical thinking, trustworthy institutions and interdisciplinary inquiry becomes more acute.
Education isn’t just about content: it’s about building trust in education, as fundamental research shows. When learners, educators, systems and communities operate in a regime of trust, the outcomes are markedly better: better engagement, higher attainment, more resilience. (Oxford Research Encyclopedias)
By placing emphasis on trust, mission-oriented status, and public-good education, Trust Education/ISSH is situated to fill a gap many are overlooking.

What your support enables

When you contribute (financially or through partnerships) to an organization like Trust Education (ISSH), you are:

• Enabling mission-driven programming rather than overhead-heavy initiatives.

• Supporting educational work that is grounded in transparency (thanks to 501(c)(3) requirements).

• Strengthening the ecosystem of civic, humanities and interdisciplinary education at a time when it’s vulnerable.

• Signaling that you stand for education as a public good, not just a commodity.

A call to action

If you believe in education that builds trust, that fosters critical thinking, that elevates civic engagement, and you recognize that this kind of work is especially vulnerable now, then consider supporting Trust Education (ISSH). Whether you donate, collaborate, partner or simply amplify their work, your involvement matters.

👉 Follow to stay engaged. Look into how you can get involved, whether through thought-leadership, funding or network-building.
Let’s make sure that at this critical time, valuable educational infrastructure doesn’t collapse, but instead grows stronger, more resilient, and more credible.

If you’re interested in learning more about how to partner with them or maximize your support (tax-efficiently, strategically), feel free to message us, We’ll be happy to connect and explore opportunities together.

Thank you for reading — and for being someone who cares about education, trust and the future of our civic institutions.

Write to us

It’s an odd cultural reflex, almost inherited.
A quiet assumption in some communities: “If it’s funded, it must be corrupt. If it’s charitable, it must be suspicious.”
And meanwhile, those same communities readily hand their personal lives to opaque platforms and centralized powers without a moment of doubt.

This contradiction has shaped our reality more than we admit.

For twelve years, ISSH (Trust Education) has done something that very few institutions manage to do: provide high-quality, methodical, measurable educational services to young people who would otherwise remain forgotten. No noise. No slogans. No campaigns. Just work. Quiet. Persistent. Often invisible.

Truth be told, we never advocated for ourselves.
We were busy delivering value, not broadcasting it.
We assumed that integrity would be enough—that the world would “just know.”

It didn’t.

And in that silence, something darker crept in: funding cuts, radical echo chambers, propaganda machines that are allergic to progress, and a growing hostility toward any initiative that empowers minds rather than controlling them. It’s the classic pattern: the more democratic and liberating a project is, the more threatening it becomes to authoritarian imaginations sitting atop the decision-making chain.

I recognize, painfully, that our existence is now being tested by forces that have nothing to do with education and everything to do with fear.

But here’s the truth:
The communities we serve cannot afford this.

This is why I am writing today.

We know that philanthropists exist—people who genuinely care, people with resources and healthy minds who believe in legacy, not vanity. People who would gladly support us if they only knew we existed.

And that’s the problem:
many simply don’t know.
Not yet.

For over a decade, ISSH was sustained through donations, grants, and—more than anything else—the self-sacrifice of a very small group of deeply devoted individuals. Most of the work was done without financial reward. Most of the hours invested were never recorded. Most of the people who carried this on their shoulders did so quietly, often anonymously.

But there comes a moment in every honest initiative when humility becomes dangerous.
When silence becomes complicity in one’s own erasure.
When those who built must finally speak.

That moment is now.

I am asking you—personally, directly—to help us protect, preserve, and strengthen ISSH.
Not because you have money.
But because you have something far more valuable: connection.

Each of us is only a few links away from someone who can transform the future of this institution with a single act of generosity.
It begins simply:

• Share this message.

• Introduce ISSH to someone who cares about education, equity, and impact.

• Invite philanthropists and visionary donors to learn who we are and what we’ve built.

• If you can, donate. If you can’t, amplify. Both actions matter.

Everything you need to know about supporting us—financially or otherwise—is here:
👉 https://trust.education/category/w2g/

What we’re offering philanthropists is not another “charity case.”
It’s an opportunity to build a legacy in the most powerful domain we know: education.
A future-proof, human-centered, impact-driven system that has already proven itself against the odds.

We don’t need millions of people.
We need a few people of conscience.
People who understand that empowering the marginalized is not an act of kindness—it’s an act of civilization.

If you’re reading this, you are already part of the movement.
This is one of those steps you will remember years from now.
A small gesture that quietly shaped a better world.

Let it begin here.
Let it begin with you.

At ISSH (Trust.Education), we refuse to accept this wall.

Our mission is a direct and powerful confrontation to this global problem. We sustain a unique, vital ecosystem that provides tuition-free, qualified, and uncensored graduate-level education in the social sciences and humanities. This isn’t basic schooling; it’s advanced, critical education for the next generation of scholars, thinkers, and leaders—the very individuals who will solve the complex challenges of tomorrow. As a recognized US 501(c)(3) nonprofit, every gift you make directly supports these scholars and advances the principle of open learning.

This year-end, we are asking you to help us not just climb over that wall, but to build a bridge—and we can literally double the strength of your efforts.

ISSH is registered and approved on the Benevity corporate giving platform. If your employer utilizes Benevity for their corporate social responsibility programs, you can direct your donation through the platform. By leveraging your company’s matching gift program, you can potentially double your contribution at no extra cost to you, ensuring the long-term sustainability and exponential impact of our mission. Pay one, and we get two. It is the most impactful way to give right now.

💡 Take Action: Double Your Impact Today

Don’t just donate; invest with maximum leverage.

Visit our cause page on Benevity through your employer’s platform today and make your year-end gift. See how your single donation can become two, providing twice the support for tuition-free, critical education.

In Education We Trust.

P.S.: For more information on how corporate matching works and to find our profile, please visit: https://trust.education/corporate-giving-and-sponsorship/

The conference, which was initiated, organized, and organized by Iran Academia (Institute of Social Sciences and Humanities), provided a platform for Iranians and international experts to come together for reflection, empathy, and synergy. Amid the increasing violence and military tensions in the region, and especially in the midst of Israeli attacks on Iranian soil – whose main victims are ordinary people – this conference provided a unique platform for an in-depth examination of these issues, aiming to address peace, democracy, and the role of the media in these turbulent times.

The lack of participation by media outlets, despite being officially invited to attend and cover this conference, is itself evidence of the lack of attention paid by mainstream media in the diaspora to covering in-depth and scientific content, especially in the field of media criticism.

During the conference, various panels were held with the participation of intellectuals, researchers, journalists, and activists. A variety of topics were discussed and examined, from the global crisis of democracy, war-oriented politics, war- and peace-oriented media, political economy, international relations and the emerging world order, women, the narrative of imprisoned women, the situation of Iran and war, the philosophical explanation of peace and the debate on freedom, populism, the far right, fascism, the war of narratives, cultural journalism, the state of diaspora media, to the role of civil activists against authoritarianism.

Iran Academia is proud of the successful organization of this conference, and plans to publish videos of each panel separately in the coming days to make them available for a wider audience. Currently, the full content of the three-day conference is available to those interested on Iran Academia’s YouTube channel.

📸 In the gallery below, you can review a collection of memorable moments from this event.

More photos here.

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The Peace, Democracy and Media Conference was held at the initiative and expense of Iran Academia and with the support of various institutions, and was part of the Just Peace Festival in The Hague; an event that took place on the eve of the NATO Summit and in cooperation with the Municipality of The Hague, The Hague Humanity Hub and Leiden University. We are sincerely grateful for the enthusiastic presence of participants from near and far, and to all those valuable speakers who helped to enhance the quality of this conference with their scientific, specialized and methodical presentations. We hope to increase this quality in the future by paying more attention to the scientific and responsible process of accepting speeches, and encouraging diverse voices to participate in order to create a multi-voice.

Hoping for a world without war and violence,

With hope for responsible, peace-oriented, people-oriented, and independent media,

And with a vision for the growth of democracy and peace in Iran and the world.

ISSH – PDM 2025 Conference Organizing Committee

Hello friends!

If this newsletter isn't directly relevant to you, it would mean the world to us if you could forward it to someone you think might find it meaningful.

Let’s Talk About Building a Better Tomorrow!

As the year ends, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for your unwavering support. Your support has helped us advance the mission of the Institute for Social Sciences and Humanities (ISSH), also known as Iran Academia. As we approach the season of giving, we invite you to continue making a profound impact through our ongoing initiatives.

End-of-Year Giving Campaign

Our End-of-Year Giving Campaign is in full swing, and your generosity can make a significant difference in the causes we deeply care about. Every donation counts, and we appreciate your continued support during this critical time. To contribute, please visit our campaign page.

GivingTuesday – Don't Forget Us!

With GivingTuesday just around the corner, we encourage you to be part of this global day of giving. Your donation on this day will be a powerful act of kindness and generosity, contributing to our meaningful work. Please mark your calendars for GivingTuesday and consider donating to support our mission. Visit the options here.

Endowment Program Campaign

Earlier this year, we launched our Endowment Program Campaign to ensure the long-term sustainability of our initiatives. This program will help us continue to serve our community with the same dedication and passion that you have come to expect from us. Your ongoing support is crucial in helping us achieve this goal. Curious about the options? Please read more here or click here to see the status.

Corporate Giving through Benevity

We are pleased to announce that ISSH is now registered and approved by Benevity, a leading platform for corporate social responsibility. Corporations and their employees can easily make a difference through various giving programs. If your employer uses Benevity, consider directing your corporate giving to support our mission.

Your support enables us to provide tuition-free, high-quality education in the social sciences and humanities to underserved communities worldwide. Together, we can continue to make a lasting impact.

Thank you for being a part of our community and wishing you a joyous holiday season and a prosperous New Year.

We are honored to announce that ISSH (Iran Academia University) has been selected and shortlisted as “A Free Educational Alternative: Online University for the Deprived” has been shortlisted for the Access, Diversity & Inclusion Award by QS Reimagine Education!

What does the selection and shortlisting of Iran Academia mean?

More than 1,300 submissions have been received in 18 categories to receive the awards of this international conference, and among them, after the review of more than 800 international judges, Iran Academia University (ISSH) was placed in the top 25% of all applicants in the first stage of evaluation, and its position guaranteed in the list of finalists for 2024. This is a great achievement for the Institute of Social and Human Sciences (Iran Academia University) as a unique institution and one of the pioneers of freedom of education and alternative and completely free higher education, in line with Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4).

We continue our commitment to provide quality education to people deprived of education and deprived of access to quality education in the field of humanities and social sciences, and this international recognition doubles our motivation to continue the path.

About this international conference

The QS Reimagine Education conference has been instrumental in establishing key partnerships, bringing together a diverse community including university presidents, business school deans, chief education officers, instructional designers, employers, policymakers, educational technology innovators, investors, non-profit organizations and sustainability advocates who have come together with the aim of shaping the future of education. The 2024 conference will be held from December 9 to 11, 2024, in London, England.

The mission of this international conference and event is to highlight innovative approaches that improve learning outcomes and employability for the next billion learners. The framework of this conference revolves around the future of work, universities and learning, with a view from the lens of sustainability and values. The conference strives to make a transformative impact on the education landscape globally.

The official website of the conference provides the following explanation:

At the QS Reimagine Education Conference, we have a rich legacy of hosting distinguished speakers from influential companies, leading universities and business schools, NGOs and innovative startups worldwide. Our speakers have represented renowned companies and institutions, including Accenture, Airbus, Amazon, Apple, Cisco, Coursera, edX, EY, FutureLearn, Google, Intel, Mastercard, Meta, Microsoft, Oracle, Salesforce, Tencent, and universities such as Arizona State University, Brown University, Columbia University, Georgia Tech, Harvard University, Hong Kong University, Imperial College London, INSEAD, London School of Economics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), National University of Singapore, Stanford University, Tec de Monterrey, The Wharton School, UC Berkeley, UCL, University of Cambridge, University of Pennsylvania (UPenn), among many others.

Their expertise and insights have consistently shaped past conferences, inspiring and challenging attendees to reimagine the future of education. Through their diverse perspectives, these thought leaders have ignited powerful discussions, influenced industry practices, and propelled innovation in the education sector.

The Hague, Netherlands, September 2, 2024—Nayereh Tohidi, Professor of Gender and Women’s Studies, and Kazem Alamdari, Professor Emeritus of Sociology, both from California State University, Northridge, have made a significant donation to the Institute for Social Sciences and Humanities, also known as Iran Academia. The couple pledged $1.5 million to support the university's recently established endowment.

The donation was announced during a special event titled “Shaping Tomorrow: Unveiling Our Future Initiatives” at the 3rd International Conference on Contemporary Iranian Studies, held at Goethe University in Frankfurt, Germany, on August 22-23, 2024, by Iran Academia.

This conference brought together prominent Iranian and international professors and young researchers to present their latest findings on topics related to Iran and the region. The event featured over 120 speakers in more than 50 panels, five plenary sessions, art exhibitions, a book fair, and historical collection displays.

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Professor Roja Fazaeli, representing the Board of Trustees of Iran Academia, expressed gratitude for the generous support from these esteemed professors, who have also taught at Iran Academia for many years. As a token of appreciation, the couple was presented with a valuable painting titled “Butterfly” by renowned artist Parastou Forouhar, who personally took the stage to share her artistic vision and the story behind the artwork.

Iran Academia University aims to ensure the sustainability of its free educational programs, research projects, and cultural initiatives through expansion of this endowment. As a non-profit institution committed to providing uncensored, high-quality knowledge, they hope to inspire support from both Iranian and non-Iranian philanthropists who value academic freedom and believe in the power of education to foster critical thinking and societal progress. The university has been providing free higher education and many innovative not-for-profit educational initiatives for 12 years.

The Institute for Social Sciences and Humanities (ISSH), also known as Iran Academia, is a citizen-led alternative university, that defends academic freedom, university autonomy, and the right to free education. It is a pioneering online university dedicated to providing free, high-quality education in social sciences. Since its inception in 2012, the institution has been at the forefront of innovative educational initiatives, serving thousands of students worldwide. ISSH is a registered and recognized charitable nonprofit organization in both the Netherlands and the United States. The university offers various educational platforms, including:

• Academia: A graduate school with a qualified master’s degree program admitting up to 150 students annually

• AcademiX: A Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) Platform with over 12,000 unique users and growing

• Agora: A multimedia knowledge exchange platform, with thousands of daily visitors

• IA University Press: A publishing house for academic journals and books with an open access approach

• ICCI: A biannual, bilingual International Conference on Contemporary Iranian Studies

• Innovation and Research Center: A newly launched initiative poised to drive cutting-edge innovations and interdisciplinary research collaborations

This generous donation marks a significant milestone for Iran Academia, enabling the institution to enhance its programs and extend its reach. The university plans to use these funds to expand its free educational offerings and strengthen its research capabilities and make significant contribution in digital humanities for further democratization of education.

We are pleased to announce the official launch of the Institute of Social Sciences and Humanities (ISSH) endowment program—a critical step to ensure the long-term sustainability of our mission at ISSH. We are grateful to all the supporters of this initiative, especially its first supporters, Dr. Nayereh Tohidi and Dr. Kazem Alamdari. Your generosity further fuels our motivation and daily encouragement.

Want to stay up-to-date on the Endowment’s activities?

In order to be directly and immediately aware of developments related to the ISSH Endowment and its foundation’s activities in the field of education and research, you can subscribe directly to https://news.trust.education.

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