Meeting Between the President of the Comprehensive University of Applied Science and Technology and the Cultural Attaché of the Embassy of the Republic of Iraq
According to the University's Public Relations Office, in line with policies aimed at advancing scientific diplomacy and strengthening regional university collaborations, a joint meeting was held between Dr. Mohammad Ali Akbari, President of the Comprehensive University of Applied Sciences, and Dr. Haider Al-Nassar, Cultural Attaché of the Embassy of the Republic of Iraq in Iran, at the University's central headquarters.
The meeting, attended by the University's Vice President for Education, the Director General of the President's Office, Public Relations and Complaints Response, and the Director General of the Office of Scientific and International Cooperation, was dedicated to a systematic review of capacities, mechanisms, and requirements for expanding educational, research, and cultural cooperation between the two countries.
In this meeting, Dr. Mohammad Ali Akbari elaborated on the skills-oriented mission and applied approach of the Comprehensive University of Applied Sciences, emphasising the University's role in developing market-driven education and transferring practical skills at the regional level. He stated: "With its extensive network of educational centres and diverse range of skills-based programmes, the Comprehensive University of Applied Sciences is prepared to develop targeted cooperation aligned with the real needs of Iraq's higher education system through joint educational programmes, short-term specialised courses, and human capital empowerment projects."
Subsequently, Dr. Haider Al-Nassar highlighted the need to institutionalise scientific cooperation between the two countries, stressing the importance of registering the Comprehensive University of Applied Sciences on the list of universities approved by the Iraqi Ministry of Higher Education. He proposed initiatives including the design and implementation of joint skills-based courses, the provision of targeted scholarships for Iraqi students, faculty and student exchanges, and the organisation of joint conferences and scientific meetings.
Furthermore, Dr. Bagheri-Farahani, Director General of the Office of Scientific and International Cooperation, presented an analytical report on the University's educational, research, and international capacities, emphasising its strategic approach to developing academic collaborations with neighbouring countries, particularly the Republic of Iraq.
At the conclusion of the meeting, both parties agreed to formulate a framework for joint scientific and educational cooperation, under which the necessary administrative and legal procedures will be pursued to include the Comprehensive University of Applied Sciences on the list of universities approved by Iraq. It was also decided that a draft memorandum of understanding for scientific and educational cooperation would be prepared, and arrangements made for the dispatch of a specialised delegation from the University to the Republic of Iraq in the near future.
The meeting concluded with an emphasis on fostering sustainable university collaborations based on mutual interests, knowledge and skills transfer, and the enhancement of scientific and cultural interactions between the two countries.