Latest news with #HaiderAl-Aboudi
Shafaq News
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Education Ministry dismisses claims of probe into Iraqi universities' research integrity
Shafaq News – Baghdad On Monday, Iraq's Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research denied reports claiming it had formed a committee to investigate eight universities allegedly cited for violating academic integrity standards. Ministry spokesperson Haider Al-Aboudi clarified in a statement that the widely circulated article on social media 'did not originate from any official international body responsible for evaluating higher education institutions or academic publishing performance according to recognized standards.' In response to inquiries from researchers and academics, Al-Aboudi confirmed that the ministry had not formed any investigative committee, as the report lacks legitimacy and does not come from a recognized accrediting or ranking authority. He added that Iraqi universities 'have a documented positive track record on global academic publishing platforms and engage in research based on clear scientific methodologies and credible international partnerships.' The clarification follows social media claims alleging that eight Iraqi universities had been listed in the so-called "IR2 Red Flag Index," purportedly identifying institutions accused of lacking research integrity. The universities named included College of Al-Mustaqbal University, University of Kufa, University of Babylon, University of Basrah, University of Baghdad, University of Mosul, Al-Mustansiriya University, and the University of Technology. The ministry reaffirmed its support for academic transparency and global engagement, dismissing the circulating report as lacking any official or academic credibility.
Shafaq News
08-04-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraq's higher education crisis: +45,000 degrees unrecognized
Shafaq News/ Iraq's higher education sector is grappling with a surge of unrecognized postgraduate degrees from private universities abroad, leaving thousands of students in limbo. Academics said that degrees from institutions in Lebanon, Turkiye, and Iran are particularly affected, as they fail to meet the Iraqi government's official recognition criteria. Strict Requirements Regulations governing foreign degrees leave little room for flexibility. According to Higher Education Ministry spokesperson Haider Al-Aboudi, students funding their own studies must choose universities listed in the ministry's official guide. "Only then can their degrees be authenticated upon returning to Iraq," he told Shafaq News. Recognition becomes even more selective for those not employed by the government. While public sector workers earning degrees from approved institutions have their qualifications validated under a cabinet decision, students attending unlisted universities face outright rejection. "A degree from an unrecognized institution holds no weight," Al-Aboudi clarified. Proposed Amendments to Degree Equivalency Law A shift in policy could soon be on the horizon. Amendments to Law No. 20 of 2020 on Equivalency of Arab and Foreign Academic Certificates and Degrees have advanced through Iraq's parliament. Once quorum is met, lawmakers will proceed with the final vote. The changes aim to tighten academic standards while offering some flexibility in residency requirements. Nahla Qadir, a member of the Parliamentary Higher Education Committee, outlined key provisions. "For PhD candidates, the new rules require a six-month non-continuous stay, while master's students must complete nine months, with an optional two-month break," she told Shafaq News. A mandatory two-year gap between earning a master's and enrolling in a PhD program is also among the proposed revisions. Equally crucial is the requirement that only academically reputable universities qualify for student enrollment. Degrees Gathering Dust Even with legislative efforts underway, unrecognized degrees continue to pile up. A 2022 report from the Administrative Research and Studies Department at the Civil Service Council exposed the staggering scale of the issue: 101,519 graduates were excluded from employment eligibility, with only 33,861 permitted to apply for advanced degrees. Meanwhile, 45,690 degrees failed to receive official recognition. The consequences have been deeply personal for many. Hassan Abbas Ali highlighted the plight of countless PhD holders. "Their degrees hang on their walls, useless, because the ministry refuses to acknowledge them," said the 50-year-old, whose doctorate from a Lebanese university remains unverified. Similar concerns were raised by Abdul Baqi Sattar, a 42-year-old doctorate holder from an Iranian university. "Iranian institutions have issued 100,000 degrees, yet officials claim 85,000 of them were simply sold," he alleged in an interview with Shafaq News. While no concrete evidence has surfaced to prove mass degree sales, he argued that direct engagement between Iraqi authorities and foreign universities is necessary to validate academic standards. Constant Worries For many postgraduate students, shifting policies have created a constant state of anxiety. Frequent changes to the Ministry of Higher Education's list of recognized universities reportedly mean that institutions granted accreditation one year may lose it the next. A complex certification process adds to the uncertainty. "Even if a university loses recognition later, its degrees should remain valid under ministry rules," said Ali Salman, a 34-year-old postgraduate student. "But in practice, the verification process is convoluted, and not all degrees make it through." Beyond bureaucratic hurdles, corruption in some foreign institutions has further eroded trust in overseas education. The rise of 'diploma mills,' according to experts, has transformed certain universities into mere certificate distributors rather than centers of learning. Academics, too, have voiced concerns. "Foreign study was once the hallmark of academic ambition, but today, many private institutions hand out degrees with little oversight," observed university professor Munim Hassan Al-Asam. "I know someone who earned a PhD without ever completing a master's. This issue is spreading through private universities abroad," he warned. Some institutions, he noted to Shafaq News, bypass even the most basic academic requirements. "No proof of prior education is needed at some places—it's purely transactional.' Yet not all foreign universities operate this way. Al-Asam emphasized that institutions maintaining rigorous academic standards still exist. "Real degrees come through extensive research and in-depth scholarly discussions, not shortcuts." The Way Forward Addressing the crisis requires more than policy changes. Experts argue that without stringent oversight, unrecognized degrees will continue to flood the Iraqi job market. Strengthening ties between Iraq and reputable foreign institutions could help, Al-Asam suggested. "Academic partnerships, rigorous verification procedures, and a crackdown on fraudulent degree mills are the only way to restore credibility to higher education."
Iraqi News
10-02-2025
- Politics
- Iraqi News
Higher Education: "Study in Iraq" program guarantees international accreditation, improves quality of university education
The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research announced today, Monday, that there are more than 3,000 international students from 91 countries studying in Iraqi universities, stressing that the "Study in Iraq" program enhances the quality of university education and ensures international accreditation. The ministry's spokesman, Haider Al-Aboudi, told the Iraqi News Agency (INA): "The (Study in Iraq) program, launched by the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Naeem Al-Aboudi, includes programs for undergraduate and graduate studies, as the numbers of those accepted varied between these two categories of students, who study in the same university environment, and participate with their Iraqi colleagues in academic programs and scientific achievement," noting that "the ministry provides a free educational environment for them, in addition to housing." He pointed out that "some international students joined Iraqi universities at their own expense, due to the limited number of available seats, which is an indicator of the quality of education in Iraq and its accreditation, which enhances the confidence of observers and international students in Iraqi educational institutions." Al-Aboudi explained that 'the number of international students has reached more than 3,000 students from 91 countries since the start of registration in the (Study in Iraq) initiative two years ago,' stressing that 'this is an important indicator of the quality of education in Iraq, as it constitutes a guarantee for achieving international accreditation and recognition of university education programs in the country.'
