# Bahá'í Institute for Higher Education

> Open university in Iran

**Wikidata**: [Q3803587](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3803587)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baháʼí_Institute_for_Higher_Education)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/baha-i-institute-for-higher-education

## Summary
The Bahá'í Institute for Higher Education (BIHE) is an open university located in Iran, founded in 1987. It operates as a Bahá'í school and academic institution for higher education, serving students who are often excluded from the conventional university system.

## Key Facts
- **Founded**: 1987.
- **Location**: Iran.
- **Type**: University, Bahá'í school (instance of).
- **Aliases**: BIHE, دانشگاه علمی آزاد (Persian).
- **Website**: http://www.bihe.org.
- **Membership**: Open Education Global (member of).
- **Identifiers**:
    - VIAF ID: 232410581.
    - Ringgold ID: 125610.
    - HAL Structure ID: 148564.
    - Library of Congress Authority ID: no2012027402.
    - Freebase ID: /m/0d7qs1.
- **Digital Presence**:
    - Sitelink Count: 6.
    - Wikipedia Languages: Arabic, Commons, German, English, Persian, Italian.
    - Wikipedia Title: Baháʼí Institute for Higher Education.
    - Commons Category: Baháʼí Institute for Higher Education.

## FAQs
### Q: What type of institution is the Bahá'í Institute for Higher Education?
A: It is classified as an open university and a Bahá'í school, functioning as an academic institution for higher education in Iran.

### Q: Is the Bahá'í Institute for Higher Education connected to international organizations?
A: Yes, it is a member of Open Education Global, as confirmed by archives from March 22, 2023.

### Q: In which languages is information about the institute available on Wikipedia?
A: The institute has Wikipedia pages in six languages: Arabic (ar), Commons, German (de), English (en), Persian (fa), and Italian (it).

## Why It Matters
The Bahá'í Institute for Higher Education plays a critical role in providing academic opportunities for the Bahá'í community in Iran, a group that has historically faced systemic barriers to accessing higher education. By operating as an open university since 1987, the BIHE addresses educational inequality and ensures the continuity of intellectual and professional development for marginalized students. Its membership in Open Education Global highlights its integration into the broader landscape of open and accessible learning initiatives.

## Notable For
- **Educational Access**: Functions as a distinct "open university" specifically established to serve the Bahá'í community in Iran.
- **International Recognition**: Holds membership in Open Education Global, connecting it to a worldwide network of educational institutions.
- **Persistent Presence**: Has maintained operations since its inception in 1987, evidenced by extensive library and authority records.
- **Multilingual Documentation**: Possesses Wikipedia entries and digital records across six different languages, reflecting its international awareness and support.

## Body

### Founding and Classification
The Bahá'í Institute for Higher Education was founded in 1987. Structurally, it is classified as an instance of a "university" and a "Bahá'í school." It operates as an open university within the geographic boundaries of Iran.

### Organizational Affiliations
The institute maintains a significant connection to the global educational community through its membership in Open Education Global. This membership status is documented in archives retrieved on March 22, 2023.

### Digital and Library Identifiers
The entity is tracked through numerous authority control systems and databases:
- **Library of Congress**: The authority ID is `no2012027402`, recorded in March 2019.
- **VIAF**: The Virtual International Authority File identifier is `232410581`, sourced from Wikidata.
- **Ringgold**: The institution holds Ringgold ID `125610`, recorded in the Global Research Identifier Database.
- **HAL Archives**: It possesses a HAL Structure ID of `148564`, identified in May 2019.
- **Freebase**: The identifier is `/m/0d7qs1`.

### Online Presence
The institute maintains a website at `http://www.bihe.org`. Its digital footprint includes a "commons category" dedicated to the "Bahá'í Institute for Higher Education." The institute's Wikipedia presence spans six languages: Arabic, Commons, German, English, Persian, and Italian. The specific Wikipedia title is noted as "Baháʼí Institute for Higher Education" (using the Unicode character U+02BC for the modifier letter apostrophe). The entity has a sitelink count of 6 across various wikis.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20230322221352/https://www.oeglobal.org/about-us/members-list/)
3. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions
4. HAL