The Industrial Advisory Board of the Presidency of Al-Furat Al-Awsat Technical University held its regular meeting for the year 2023, chaired by the university president, Prof. Dr. Mudhaffar Sadiq Al-Zuhairy, with the attendance of board members representing the public and private sectors, as well as the university council members and several department directors at the university’s presidency.
In his opening speech, the university president welcomed the board members from Najaf Al-Ashraf and Al-Furat Al-Awsat governorates, as well as the Ministry of Industry and Minerals – General Directorate of Industrial Development. He praised the significant efforts made by the industrial chambers in these governorates in training students and preparing graduates for entry into the job market and creating real employment opportunities for them in the private sector.
He also highlighted the meeting between the presidents of Iraqi universities and the Prime Minister, Mr. Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani, and his directives to establish partnerships with the industry sector to ensure that the universities’ outputs meet the requirements of both the public and private sectors and their respective skill needs.
In the same context, Al-Zuhairy emphasized the Ministry’s plan to implement the Bologna process in engineering colleges in the upcoming academic year and the significant role played by the industry sector in the success of implementing this process through participation in curriculum development, student training, and outcome evaluation.
Furthermore, Al-Zuhairy mentioned the “Entrepreneurship” initiative launched by the Prime Minister to support graduates in establishing their own entrepreneurial projects and guide them towards the proper foundations of planning these projects, including the required studies, consultations in scientific, administrative, legal, marketing, and financial aspects.
The attendees then discussed the agenda items of the meeting, which included directing the Ministry to conduct a survey of the private sector and the job market’s needs in terms of degrees and specializations, as well as setting a date for the second job fair and reviewing the status of summer training in the private sector and government institutions and addressing its challenges.
Moreover, the Director of the Scientific Affairs Department, prof.Dr. Ali Abdulhussein Al-Dhalemi, presented an evaluation of the partnership experience between the university presidency and the Najaf Chamber of Industry, which included the organization of preparatory courses for graduates to train them on the required skills in the private sector, resulting in the employment of a large number of them in laboratories affiliated with the chamber.
The board members, in their interventions, highlighted the importance of enhancing communication between the university and the industry sector and their commitment to qualifying and employing graduates. They expressed their willingness to cooperate with the university to ensure that graduates are equipped with the necessary abilities and skills to enter the job market.
On the other hand, the challenges facing the Iraqi private sector and its need for supportive legislation and measures to strengthen partnerships with universities, for the benefit of both parties and the overall graduates’ prospects, were discussed and diagnosed.
The recommendations of the meeting will be submitted to the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and relevant authorities to address the challenges facing the partnership between the private sector and Iraqi universities.
