During the sixth Advisory Board meeting, His Excellency, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Dr. Naeem Abd Yaser Al-Aboudi emphasized that digital transformation and automation in the higher education environment guarantee the quality of institutional performance and are a pivotal pillar for enhancing the international competitiveness of Iraqi universities and enabling them to fulfill their mission efficiently and sustainably.

Dr. Al-Aboudi highlighted that the adopted digital aspect by the Ministry has become a strategic pillar for developing higher education and contributing to achieve sustainable development goals according to the requirements of the knowledge economy.

His Excellency praised the role of Iraqi universities in consolidating academic awareness and maintaining their ability to influence, produce scientific output and compete globally.

Dr. Al-Aboudi directed support for scientific research in the field of digital transformation, in light of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research's policy, which keeps pace with global academic trends and continues to provide advanced digital services based on the integration of technology and knowledge.

His Excellency said that the members of the Advisory Board reviewed the articles on the agenda and voted on the following:

▪️ Strengthening the necessary support frameworks for examination committees for ministerial assessment tests.

▪️ Approving the process a number of certificate evaluation cases based on the legal powers granted to the Opinion Board.

▪️ Approving the a regulatory mechanism for establishing scientific societies and regulating their membership.

▪️ Forming a specialized ministerial committee to develop English language curricula in universities.

▪️ Approving the process the cases of students who performed Hajj rituals simultaneously with the first round of final exams, in accordance with the powers of the universities.

Dr. Al-Aboudi directed the disbursement of a financial reward of four million dinars for every scientific research published in reputable journals with an Impact Factor classified within the first quarter (Q1) in Scopus and Clarivate, in support of the scientific publishing process and to enhance the presence of Iraqi universities in the global academic scene.

It is worth to be mentioned that the meeting was attended by senior staff and university presidents.