The President of Al-Furat Al-Awsat Technical University, Professor Dr. Hassan Latif Al-Zubaidi, participated in a specialized workshop on the development of a Professional Diploma in University Leadership, organized by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in cooperation with the British Council, Imam Ja’afar Al-Sadiq University (PBUH), and the Higher Institute for Leadership Preparation and Development. The workshop was attended by a number of presidents of public and private universities.
The workshop was held as part of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research’s ongoing efforts to enhance leadership capabilities within higher education institutions. It also forms part of the Ministry’s initiative to develop a specialized Professional Diploma in University Leadership aimed at preparing academic and administrative leaders and strengthening their competencies in strategic planning, institutional change management, and the promotion of quality assurance and innovation, in line with the evolving needs of the higher education sector.
The workshop featured keynote addresses by Professor Dr. Haider Abd Dhahad, Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research for Scientific Research Affairs; Dr. Riyadh Khalil Ibrahim, President of Imam Ja’afar Al-Sadiq University (PBUH); Dr. Abdul Karim Kadhim Ajeel, Dean of the Higher Institute for Leadership Preparation and Development; and Dr. Richard Sunderland, Director of the British Council. Their speeches emphasized the growing importance of internationalization, improving the quality of higher education, strengthening institutional autonomy, and aligning educational outcomes with labor market needs. They also highlighted the necessity of building stronger leadership and managerial capacities among academic leaders to enable them to effectively manage institutional transformation and lead organizational change.
The workshop included a series of interactive discussions and consultation sessions focusing on identifying the leadership competencies required for the future, exploring the challenges facing Iraqi universities, and reviewing the proposed diploma curriculum, implementation mechanisms, and expected learning outcomes.
The workshop aimed to create a collaborative platform for dialogue and consultation, enabling participants to identify current leadership challenges, anticipate the leadership competencies needed for the next phase of higher education in Iraq, and contribute to the development of a diploma program that effectively addresses the sector’s actual needs.
Participants concluded by emphasizing the importance of establishing an integrated framework for developing university leaders, supporting the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research’s efforts to enhance institutional performance, improve the quality of higher education, and achieve the goals of sustainable academic development.
