In a move that reflects the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research’s commitment to supporting culture and knowledge, Professor Dr. Ni’ma Dahash Farhan, Dean of the College of Islamic Sciences at the University of Baghdad, met with Professor Dr. Haidar Abdul Zahra, Chairman of the Committee for Intellectual and Cultural Preparation in the ministry, to discuss ways to develop the second edition of the Higher Education Reading Award.
Dr. Farhan praised this pioneering initiative launched by His Excellency the Minister of Higher Education, Dr. Naeem Al-Aboudi, highlighting its importance in encouraging students to read and broadening their cultural horizons. He emphasized the role of universities in supporting such initiatives and providing an environment conducive to creativity and innovation.
For his part, the Chairman of the Committee, Dr. Abdul Zahra, emphasized the importance of collaboration between the ministry and universities to ensure the success of the award and achieve its objectives. He noted that the selection of the competition’s books, Islamic Perspectives on the Declaration of Human Rights by the martyr Muhammad Sadr and The Civilizational Question: How to Innovate Our Future in a Changing World, reflects the ministry’s commitment to encouraging critical reading and creative thinking.
The meeting addressed ways to develop the award in its second edition, emphasizing the need to increase awareness among students and faculty members, as well as to broaden participation to include all Iraqi universities. The possibility of organizing parallel cultural activities, such as seminars and discussion sessions, was also explored, with the aim of deepening dialogue on the issues presented in the books and promoting scientific research.
In a related context, attendees praised the role of His Excellency the Minister of Higher Education, Dr. Naeem Al-Aboudi, in supporting Iraqi universities and providing the necessary resources to enhance the educational and research process. They affirmed that this award is a living example of the ministry’s commitment to achieving integration between the academic and cultural aspects.
In conclusion, it can be stated that this meeting underscores the Ministry of Higher Education and Iraqi universities’ dedication to supporting culture and knowledge and enhancing the role of reading in building an educated and developed society.
