Requirements of the Iranian higher education to join WTO

Globalization has changed many world problems and issues, and the relations between the states and the nations; and the establishment of the WTO in the context of trade in goods and services is the result. This organization is responsible for the regulation of trade among member states and has prepared the General Agreement on Trade in Services known as Gates that is a guidelines and framework for trade services among organization's members. Since 2005, Iran has accepted as an observer member of the organization and is on the verge of joining the organization. Higher education services as one of the 12 issues of trade, is considered the most complex and challenging areas of trade services. The aim of this study was to investigate the Iran's requirements of higher education to join WTO. Using archival and comparative methods in the framework of general principles of Gates agreement, the conditions and requirements of Iran's higher education were evaluated. The process of formation of the WTO and the globalization of higher education were reviewed and about the rules and regulations of Iran's higher education and comparison of its conditions with the General Agreement on Trade in Services and the legal and administrative requirements for accession to the WTO was examined. Also, national interests, economic issues and local laws that Iranian higher education should consider in the framework of the Gates laws were evaluated.