Iran and Iraq are set to begin implementing a memorandum providing mutual scholarships for students from both countries to expand educational cooperation.
Under this agreement, Iraq will provide 200 scholarships annually to Iranian students, while Iran will offer 100 scholarships to Iraqi students per year. This was reported by the Iraqi ambassador in Tehran, Yasser Abdul-Zahra Al-Hajjaj, citing IRNA.
These statements were made by the official during a meeting with Said Khabiba, head of the Students' Organization, on Monday. He also highly praised the Students' Organization's efforts in addressing the issues of Iraqi students studying at Iranian universities.
For his part, Khabiba emphasized the high academic level of Iranian higher education, which ranks 15th-16th globally. He noted that scholarships would be awarded to Iraqi students who achieved the highest scores on secondary school certificate exams (such as mathematics and geometry for engineering specialties).
If the first year proves successful, the number of scholarships will be increased in subsequent years. Selected students will have the opportunity to study at leading Iranian universities.
The official also stressed the necessity of knowing Persian for attracting foreign students, stating that Iraq could utilize Iranian Persian language instructors to conduct courses for Iraqi students and facilitate their stay in Iranian educational institutions.
Regarding the difficulties faced by international students, including Iraqis, the official stated that they have until December 2nd to upload documents to resolve accumulated issues.
Fostering Academic Ties
Iranian and Iraqi officials discussed ways to strengthen scientific and academic cooperation, promote the exchange of specialized experience, and expand partnerships between the universities and research institutes of the two countries.
The discussions took place during an academic session titled 'Horizons of Scientific and Professional Development,' organized by the Association of Iraqi Graduates of Iranian Universities in Baghdad. The meeting was attended by Iran's scientific advisor in Iraq, Mohammad Jawad Najafi, the head of Iraq's Center for Strategic Affairs, Salah Bushi, as well as several Iraqi graduates of Iranian universities.
The session provided an opportunity to explore paths toward closer academic interaction and the exchange of scientific and professional experience. Speaking at the event, Najafi characterized Iraqi graduates from Iran as valuable personnel playing a key role in developing scientific and technological cooperation, creating joint research projects, and exchanging knowledge between the two states.
He called on graduates to maintain constant contact with their home universities in Iran. For his part, Bushi spoke about the importance of Iranian university graduates for Iraq's scientific and professional progress. He emphasized that the value of higher education is demonstrated in the ability to solve problems, increase organizational productivity, and serve society, noting that obtaining an academic degree is a starting point for developing competencies and acquiring professional skills.
The official also deemed it necessary to utilize the scientific achievements of universities in major research projects and highlighted the need to enhance synergy between the higher education system, labor market demands, and national development priorities. Furthermore, Iraqi students shared their views and expressed concerns regarding postgraduate education, offering some ideas.
On October 20th, the Iraqi ambassador to Iran, Yasser Abdul-Zahra Al-Hajjaj, emphasized that scientific cooperation between the two countries must go beyond student enrollment and include joint research, the exchange of professors and researchers, and stronger technological links. He made these remarks during a speech at a national festival held at the Iran University of Science and Technology.
Referring to significant progress in bilateral scientific relations, Al-Hajjaj reported that thousands of Iraqi students study in over 80 Iranian universities, pursuing medical and non-medical specialties across the country. The past two weeks of Iranian and Iraqi science brought together more than 70 or 80 rectors from both nations, and over 250 memorandums of understanding were signed, indicating a positive experience in expanding scientific cooperation.
The official noted that the establishment of a branch of Tehran Medical University in Iraq has contributed to stabilizing academic relations between Iran and Iraq more than ever before. He added that branches of Tehran University will soon be opened in Karbala and Najaf, and he expressed hope for the opening of branches of Sharif University of Technology and Iran University of Science and Technology in Iraq.
According to the official, Iraq is expanding its educational and research infrastructure, and with the increase in local universities, most Iraqi students will likely study at home. Considering that 85 percent of Iraqi students in Iran are employees who, according to new Iraqi legislation, will face challenges studying abroad, the official suggested viewing this situation as an opportunity rather than a threat to revise the model of scientific interaction between the parties. Otherwise, a probable decrease in the number of Iraqi students in Iran could create new difficulties.
The Iraqi official called for the implementation of joint research projects in fields such as medicine, agriculture, sand and dust, oil, gas, and new technologies like artificial intelligence. The development of joint educational courses and joint supervision of dissertations were among other issues raised by Al-Hajjaj.
