A joint meeting was held between the high-level delegation from the University of Al-Iraqiya, Baghdad, and the President and Board of Trustees of Razi University.

According to the public relations office of Razi University, the meeting took place on Saturday, 10th of Khordad, 1404 (May 31, 2025), in the President’s meeting hall at Razi University.

In this meeting, Dr. Jamal Fathollahi, President of Razi University, welcomed the delegation from the University of Al-Iraqiya and expressed hope that the delegation would have a pleasant stay in Kermanshah and at Razi University. He then provided an overview of Kermanshah province and Razi University.

Dr. Fathollahi highlighted Kermanshah’s importance in Iran, saying: "With a population of about 2 million, Kermanshah is home to 2.4% of Iran’s 85 million population. There are over 2,000 faculty members at various universities in the province, with about 500 of them (one-fourth of the total faculty members in the province) working at Razi University."

He continued: "Out of the 60,000 students studying at universities in Kermanshah, 12,000 are enrolled at Razi University. This makes Razi University a comprehensive university, offering 14 faculties and 54 academic departments."

University Ranking
Dr. Fathollahi also mentioned Razi University's academic standing, stating: "According to the latest ranking by the Islamic World Science Citation Center (ISC), Razi University ranks 8th among the 64 comprehensive universities in Iran. This ranking is based on 183 performance indicators."

Emphasis on Expanding Bilateral Cooperation
Dr. Fathollahi remarked that the University of Al-Iraqiya also enjoys an excellent academic reputation in Iraq, expressing hope for expanding scientific and research collaborations between the two universities. He also noted that such interactions could strengthen the ties between Iran and Iraq.

At the end of his speech, Dr. Fathollahi proposed that representatives from both universities be assigned to follow up and implement the agreements made during the meeting.

President of the University of Al-Iraqiya Speaks
Dr. Ali Saleh Hussein, President of the University of Al-Iraqiya, expressed his gratitude for Razi University’s hospitality and said, "We are thankful for the warm reception from Razi University. Before this, we visited Ferdowsi University of Mashhad and had activities in Tehran. We are pleased to witness the advanced universities, lush campuses, and rich cultural and architectural heritage of Iran."

Dr. Hussein also highlighted the academic standing of the University of Al-Iraqiya, saying, "The University of Al-Iraqiya is one of the top 9 universities in Baghdad and consistently ranks first or second in the annual rankings by Iraq's Ministry of Higher Education. The university hosts 21,000 undergraduate students and 2,000 graduate students across 10 faculties."

He concluded by emphasizing the numerous international MoUs that the University of Al-Iraqiya has signed, stating, "We hope to swiftly operationalize the MoU with Razi University and expand joint collaborations between our two universities."

Key Proposals for Expanding Cooperation
Dr. Shahab Moradkhani, Director of Razi University’s International Cooperation Office, discussed the scientific relationships between the two universities, saying, "We have signed several MoUs with universities in Iraq, and fortunately, the University of Al-Iraqiya has shown serious interest in advancing the MoU with Razi University. Some aspects of the MoU, which was signed during the Iran-Iraq Science Week, have already been implemented."

Dr. Moradkhani mentioned a previous trip by Razi University’s President to Iraq, during which agreements on student and faculty exchange were made, leading to the hosting of the first group of students from the University of Al-Iraqiya in the Winter School program at Razi University. He also noted that a second group of Iraqi students was scheduled to visit Razi University in May 2025, but the trip was postponed due to exam schedules.

Dr. Moradkhani proposed four key operational suggestions for further cooperation:

1. Research opportunities for faculty and researchers at both universities.
2. Joint teaching programs to enhance academic standards.
3. Development of sporting events between the students of both countries.
4. Cultural cooperation, particularly for programs related to the Arbaeen pilgrimage.

Discussions on Expanding Cooperation
The meeting continued with the Vice Presidents of Razi University sharing their perspectives, ideas, and suggestions for expanding academic, educational, research, and cultural cooperation between Razi University and the University of Al-Iraqiya.

The high-level delegation from the University of Al-Iraqiya included Dr. Ali Saleh Hussein, President of the University, Dr. Khamis Awad Zidan, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Malik Abd al-Razzaq Jabar, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Dr. Haifa Mahmoud Farhad, Administrative Vice Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Dr. Hudhaifah Dhia Dawood, Director of Internal Affairs, Dr. Imad Ibrahim Ahmed, Head of the Student Exchange Department, and Dr. Khamis Zareh Rahil, Administrative Staff from the President’s Office.

Ceremony of Gift Exchange
At the end of the meeting, Dr. Ali Saleh Hussein presented a commemorative plaque from the University of Al-Iraqiya to Dr. Jamal Fathollahi, President of Razi University, as a token of appreciation. In return, Dr. Fathollahi presented a plaque from Razi University to Dr. Hussein, recognizing the efforts and cooperation between the two universities.

 

شناسه : 20690651