The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research held its conference on implementing the Bologna Process in technical universities in Iraq, in cooperation with the European Union mission and the UNESCO office in Baghdad.

The Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Dr. Naeem Al-Aboudi, announced in his speech, in the presence of representatives of the European Union and UNESCO, the advisor to the Prime Minister, Dr. Hamid Khalaf, and a number of undersecretaries, advisors, presidents of public and private universities, general directors, and an elite group of academics and specialists, the success of implementing the Bologna Pathway in the specializations of technical universities, which preceded their counterparts in Implementing it, confirming at the same time the readiness of all public and private universities to adopt the Bologna Process and to complete the requirements for its implementation in more than six hundred departments in the faculties of engineering and science, starting from the current academic year 2023/2024.

He explained that the higher education system, its universities and institutions have become part of an ambitious and effective vision and program linked to the globalization of academic events, and that it will not be far from the circle of internationalization of education, pointing out that these climates make education sustainable and place universities directly in front of their responsibilities in benefiting from global experiences in cooperation with representatives of the European Union. UNESCO is part of a strategic partnership environment that extends into the coming decades.

In this context, Advisor to the Prime Minister, Dr. Hamid Khalaf, said that adopting the Bologna path in Iraq was a responsible decision towards developing educational systems and meeting the institutions’ need for competency-based programmes, providing quality climates and applying their academic standards, while the Director of the Cooperation Department at the European Union Mission, Ms. Barbara Ecker, presented She thanked the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and its universities for the level of cooperation and coordination in implementing programs and reaching the station of good education. She expressed her welcome to the Ministry’s decision to adopt the Bologna Process, noting at the same time that it represents the main path to reforming education in Iraq.

For his part, UNESCO Advisor for Technical and Vocational Education and Training Reform, Mr. Tim Meisen, affirmed his support for the decision of the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Dr. Naeem Al-Aboudi, to implement the Bologna Pathway in universities, indicating that the keenness in making the decision contributed to the success of the project and that this path represents a radical reform in the educational environment at the level of education. Programs, efficiency of the institution and its system.

The conference witnessed a presentation on the Bologna Pathway presented by UNESCO Advisor Anne Katherine Isaacs, and sessions on implementing the Bologna Pathway, designing curricula, and implementing the quality system presented by specialists from the four technical universities, while UNESCO Program Specialist Dr. Anas Bou Hilal reviewed UNESCO’s agreements on educational qualifications, while a panel discussion was held on implementing the Bologna Pathway. Bologna in Iraqi universities, challenges and opportunities included the presidents of the Central Technical University and the Middle Euphrates Technical University, a number of UNESCO advisors and experts, and the ministry’s advisor, Dr. Alaa Abdel Hassan.