Minister of Higher Education Honors Top Students with the Minister’s Excellence Award

Dr Naeem Al-Aboudi, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, honoured the top-performing students at Iraqi universities with the Minister’s Excellence Award for Outstanding Achievement. The ceremony was attended by senior staff, presidents of public and private universities, vice-presidents, deans, department heads, and the families of the awardees.

In his speech during the ceremony, the minister emphasised the ministry’s commitment to providing a stimulating environment for distinguished students and offering comprehensive support. This includes opportunities for pursuing postgraduate studies, participating in innovation projects, benefiting from research and technology incubators within Iraqi universities, and engaging in regional and international academic conferences and forums.

He highlighted that, through its strategic vision, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research has achieved a series of pioneering scientific accomplishments over the past three years, strengthening the position of Iraqi universities. These achievements have laid decisive steps toward comprehensive digital transformation, the establishment of specialised academic programmes, the rise of Iraqi universities in international rankings, an increase in published scientific research, and a growing number of Iraqi university journals indexed in global databases. The ministry has also launched masters' programmes in artificial intelligence and attracted thousands of international students from 47 nationalities under the "Study in Iraq" programme.

In conclusion, Dr Al-Aboudi congratulated the top students, their universities, and families on this achievement, affirming that the ministry will continue to foster ambition and support the pursuit of academic excellence in Iraq, remaining worthy of its responsibilities under all circumstances.