Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Dr. Naeem Al-Aboudi, affirmed that digital transformation and automation in the higher education environment serve as a guarantee for institutional performance quality and are a key pillar in enhancing the international competitiveness of Iraqi universities, enabling them to effectively and sustainably fulfill their mission.
In his opening speech at the sixth meeting of the Advisory Board, attended by senior ministry officials and university presidents, the Minister emphasized that the digital path adopted by the ministry has become a strategic foundation for the development of higher education and a contributor to achieving sustainable development goals in line with the knowledge economy. He praised the role of Iraqi universities in promoting academic awareness and maintaining their ability to produce impactful research and compete globally.
The Minister directed support for scientific research in the field of digital transformation, in line with the Ministry’s policy of aligning with global academic trends and advancing the delivery of sophisticated digital services built on the integration of technology and knowledge.
During the meeting, members of the Advisory Board discussed the items on the agenda and voted on the following resolutions:
▪️ Strengthening support mechanisms for examination committees overseeing ministerial assessment exams.
▪️ Approval of solutions for certain cases related to credential evaluation, based on the legal authority granted to the Advisory Board.
▪️ Adoption of a regulatory framework for establishing scientific associations and organizing their membership.
▪️ Formation of a specialized ministerial committee to develop English language curricula in universities.
▪️ Approval to address the academic status of students who performed Hajj during the first round of final exams, in accordance with university discretion.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Minister Dr. Naeem Al-Aboudi announced a financial reward of four million Iraqi dinars for each scientific research paper published in reputable, high-impact journals classified in the first quartile (Q1) within the Scopus and Clarivate databases. This initiative aims to support scientific publishing and strengthen the global academic presence of Iraqi universities.
