+1,000 students compete: Iraq wins Jury Award at Arab Robotics Championship
The Iraqi team, comprising students of various age groups from the Directorate General of Education in Basra, secured the award at the 16th edition of the Arab Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Championship. The competition brought together over 1,000 participants from 18 Arab countries.
The Ministry's media office relayed the Minister of Education's congratulations to Yaseen Nabil Kazem from Al-Awhad Model School and Tabarak Nabil Kazem from Al-Fajr Al-Jadeed School for their exceptional academic and creative performances, which led to their victory.
The Minister also acknowledged the contributions of parents, teaching staff, and the Ajeal Al-Tiqnia Organization, which played a key role in nurturing the students' scientific talents.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Shafaq News
8 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Iraq's higher education enters the AI era: Promise and obstacles
Shafaq News Artificial Intelligence (AI) has shifted from futuristic theory to global necessity, reshaping economies, public services, and knowledge systems. Iraq, emerging from decades of conflict and institutional fragility, is now taking measured steps into this transformation. The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research has announced the establishment of two new colleges at the University of Baghdad: the College of Excellence and the College of Artificial Intelligence. Both are expected to open in the 2025–2026 academic year, a move that signals a decisive turn in Iraq's higher education modernization. The College of Excellence will cover a wide range of fields, from data science and e-business management to banking, philosophy, and sociology. The College of Artificial Intelligence will focus on engineering applications, biomedical technologies, and big data analytics. The ministry has set an August 20 deadline to finalize logistics and faculty appointments, with admissions rules tailored to attract high-achieving students. For Minister Naeem Abd Yaser al-Aboudi, the project goes beyond bureaucratic restructuring. It is an attempt to align Iraqi academia with global technological shifts and prepare graduates for a digital economy increasingly reliant on advanced tools. The University of Baghdad is not alone in experimenting with AI programs. The University of Warith al-Anbiyaa in Karbala has already launched an artificial intelligence department that has drawn wide student interest. The Middle Technical University in Baghdad has introduced courses in cybersecurity and AI, while the American University of Baghdad recently secured international funding to establish an Innovation Lab dedicated to digital intelligence and engineering. Even Al-Iraqia University has incorporated AI into its media faculty through a new department of AI journalism. Together, these initiatives suggest the early formation of an academic ecosystem that could push Iraq toward the digital age. Policymakers argue that the task now is to transform scattered efforts into a structured national program. Firas al-Muslmawi, a member of the parliamentary Higher Education Committee, told Shafaq News the new colleges should become models to be replicated nationwide, with unified curricula forming the backbone of Iraq's future AI education. He emphasized that the technology's applications in medicine, planning, and knowledge production justify embedding it firmly into universities. Academics, however, caution that ambition must be matched by capacity. Alaa Najah, professor at the University of Baghdad's College of Media, welcomed the new colleges as a necessary first step but noted their success hinges on infrastructure, electricity, and qualified faculty. Iraq, he argued, must not only train its own instructors but also recruit expertise from abroad. 'Iraq must not only train its own instructors but also draw on expertise from abroad. If we do not keep pace with modern technologies, we will be technologically illiterate,' Najah warned. Students, meanwhile, see AI studies as a route out of Iraq's stagnant labor market. Hassan Sarmad al-Ghazi told Shafaq News he intends to apply to the College of Artificial Intelligence to secure a stable future without relying on public-sector employment. Israa Ibrahim expressed optimism that digital skills could open doors to remote work with international firms or higher-paying jobs in domestic industry. The expansion of AI education cannot be separated from Iraq's broader national strategy. The state's first major steps in AI came in security, where rising cyber threats pushed the Ministry of Interior to establish a Cybersecurity Directorate in 2022. That body, under Brigadier General Hassan Hadi Lazeez, now manages digital forensics and AI-based threat detection. Thousands of personnel have received training. In 2024, the government drafted a National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence, known as INSAI, designed to integrate AI across healthcare, agriculture, tourism, and education. The University of Baghdad's new colleges can thus be seen as higher education's contribution to this strategy. Despite this momentum, serious obstacles remain. Educational technology expert Dr. Mohammad Awada told Shafaq News that while internet penetration now exceeds 80 percent, network stability is weak and frequent shutdowns — often during exam periods — undermine digital services. 'Many universities lack reliable electricity and modern laboratories, with some schools relying on solar solutions provided by aid agencies,' Awada said, adding that brain drain continues to weaken the talent pool, leaving institutions short of qualified faculty in AI and related disciplines. Just as concerning, Iraq has yet to develop a legal and ethical framework to govern AI deployment, raising questions about research integrity and data security. International studies confirm both the potential and the limitations. Research on Iraqi universities suggests AI-based teaching can improve classroom performance, but stress the need for institutional support and sustained funding. At Al-Nahrain University, faculty members have voiced support for integrating AI into pedagogy, seeing it as a way to move beyond teaching methods long criticized as rigid and outdated. Regionally, Iraq is still in the early stages compared with the UAE, Saudi Arabia, or even neighboring Iran and Turkiye, all of which have national AI strategies already underway. The UAE launched the world's first Ministry of Artificial Intelligence in 2017, Saudi Arabia's SDAIA oversees large-scale AI investment, while Iran continues to fund AI research despite sanctions. Against this backdrop, Baghdad's initiative may appear modest, but it is significant. It reflects recognition that exclusion from the AI ecosystem would deepen Iraq's marginalization and dependence.
Shafaq News
3 days ago
- Shafaq News
Russia, Iran, China, North Korea deepens strategic ties
Shafaq News – Washington Russia, Iran, China, and North Korea are deepening their strategic partnership, countering claims that the so-called 'axis of disruption' had weakened after Iran's recent 12-day conflict with Israel, according to a report by the National Security Journal. The alliance is extending across military, technological, and space domains. Tehran recently launched a communications satellite on a Russian Soyuz rocket, continuing earlier collaboration such as the 2022 'Khayyam' mission from Kazakhstan. This cooperation also includes advanced weaponry and technology. Chinese-made engines are reportedly aiding Russia in producing Garbiya-A1 attack drones despite Western sanctions, while Iran is turning to China for stealth fighters and sophisticated air defense systems. Diplomatic and commercial ties are likewise expanding. Russia has resumed flights to Pyongyang, and Tehran is seeking Moscow and Beijing's backing on its nuclear agenda, reflecting a multifaceted and increasingly influential alliance. The National Security Journal further cautioned that Western powers should not underestimate this coordination, as these nations advance drones, space programs, and broader military initiatives at a pace that challenges global norms.
Shafaq News
04-08-2025
- Shafaq News
Green turning grey: Inside Iraq's accelerating desertification
Shafaq News Iraq stands on the brink of an environmental disaster, with nearly 60 percent of its territory either already desert or undergoing rapid desertification. The Green Iraq Observatory has warned that reversing this trend demands an unprecedented effort: the planting of 15 billion trees. But as drought intensifies, air quality worsens, and communities are forced to leave their lands, the scale of the crisis is rapidly outpacing national mitigation efforts. Land Losing Life Desertification in Iraq has expanded significantly over the past decade—from 30 percent of the country's land to more than 42 percent today. When naturally arid areas are included, roughly three-fifths of the country now suffers from land degradation. This transformation threatens not only Iraq's agricultural base, but also its ecological balance and societal stability. 'We must reverse this by transforming degraded areas into green zones through massive tree planting,' Omar Abdul-Latif from the Green Iraq Observatory told Shafaq News. He identified climate-resilient species like conifers and Dodonaea as ideal candidates, able to survive harsh conditions while serving as natural barriers against dust storms and wind erosion. But desertification is more than a matter of dust and trees—it reflects a deeper environmental unraveling. In Baghdad, air pollution has reached hazardous levels, with high concentrations of gases such as carbon dioxide. 'Baghdad has become unfit for living,' Abdul-Latif warned, urging rapid intervention in both rural and urban areas. Heat Without Relief Desertification in Iraq is not a new phenomenon, but it has worsened dramatically in recent decades due to climate change and human-induced pressures. While the country lies in a naturally arid zone, decades of environmental mismanagement have deepened the crisis. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) notes that the Middle East and North Africa region is warming at twice the global average. Rainfall is diminishing, and extreme heat waves are becoming more common. In Iraq, annual precipitation has declined to as little as 5–15 centimeters, with summer temperatures frequently exceeding 50°C. These shifts have heightened water stress, accelerated land degradation, and driven a destructive cycle of agricultural decline and environmental breakdown. Farms to Fallout The consequences are starkest in Iraq's central and southern regions. Formerly fertile farmland is now barren, and rural migration is rising sharply. In Dhi Qar province, desertification is now the main cause of displacement, according to the Observatory. Over 70 percent of Iraq's agricultural land has also become unproductive. Environmental researcher Haider Rashad Al-Rubaie warned that the crisis is expanding, with more fertile zones at risk across multiple provinces. While he acknowledged that aridity is natural in areas like Al-Samawah and Al-Anbar, he emphasized that poor land management and weakening rural economies have made the situation far worse. Among the major drivers are unregulated well-drilling, the rapid spread of unauthorized fish farms, and the conversion of farmland into residential zones. In Basra, saltwater intrusion—exacerbated by decreased river flow—is pushing desertification northward. 'Wars and the use of prohibited weapons raised air temperatures,' noted environmental expert Iqbal Lateef, in an interview with our agency. 'At the same time, uncontrolled well drilling, violations of water quotas, and illegal land conversion have driven the crisis.' Scattered State Action Bassim Kanaan Abdul-Jabbar, head of the Forests and Desertification Department at the Ministry of Agriculture, said a nationwide assessment is underway. 'We are working with the Environment, Water Resources, and Industry Ministries, alongside the Desert Studies Center, to develop policy recommendations,' he told Shafaq News. The ministry has also begun deploying field interventions—using clay to stabilize sand dunes, digging trenches, constructing berms, and planting trees adapted to extreme heat and drought. A flagship sand stabilization project is already active in Dhi Qar, and there are plans to plant resilient tree species along major highways in the south. Still, Abdul-Jabbar emphasized that desertification is not the burden of one institution alone. 'This is a national challenge that requires high-level coordination among ministries.' More Than Climate Crisis Although climate change is a major driver, Iraq's desertification crisis is rooted in structural and governance failures. Experts point to weak enforcement of land-use regulations, outdated irrigation methods, and insufficient investment in green infrastructure as factors that have compounded the problem. 'The crisis cannot be solved through local action alone,' warned Lateef. 'Government diplomacy with upstream countries is essential to securing sufficient water flows.' Iraq depends heavily on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, both of which originate in Turkiye and Iran. Dam construction in both countries has slashed Iraq's water intake by up to 80 percent. The UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) stresses the importance of transboundary water management in dryland regions. While Iraq recently reached an agreement with Turkiye on water cooperation, it has yet to be implemented. Meanwhile, binding deals that guarantee reliable water releases from Iran remain elusive despite years of negotiations. Future in Peril The Strategic Studies Center reports that 90 percent of Iraq now lies within arid or semi-arid zones. Rainfall continues to decline, and evaporation rates are surging. Without rapid and coordinated action, experts caution of looming agricultural collapse, widespread displacement, and deteriorating public health. 'The solutions are known,' Abdul-Latif concluded. 'But the challenge lies in the will and capacity to implement them at the scale required.'
