The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research organized a specialized workshop to identify leadership needs within the higher education sector, in cooperation with the British Council, Imam Ja’afar Al-Sadiq (PBUH) University, 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’s ongoing efforts to enhance leadership capabilities across higher education institutions and to develop a specialized Professional Diploma in University Leadership. The proposed diploma aims to prepare academic and administrative leaders by strengthening their competencies in strategic planning, institutional change management, and fostering a culture of quality and innovation, in line with the evolving needs of the higher education sector.
The workshop featured keynote addresses by the Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research for Scientific Research, Professor Dr. Haider Abdul Dhahad; the President of Imam Ja’afar Al-Sadiq (PBUH) University, Dr. Riyadh Khalil Ibrahim; the Dean of the Higher Institute for Leadership Preparation and Development, Dr. Abdul Karim Kadhim Ajeel; and the Director of the British Council, Dr. Richard Sunderland. 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 highlighted the necessity of building stronger leadership and administrative capacities among academic leaders to effectively manage institutional transformation and lead change.
The workshop also included a series of interactive dialogue and consultation sessions focusing on identifying the essential leadership competencies required for the future, exploring the challenges facing Iraqi universities, and discussing the proposed diploma’s curriculum, implementation mechanisms, and expected learning outcomes.
The workshop aimed to provide a collaborative platform for dialogue and consultation, enabling participants to assess current leadership challenges, anticipate the leadership competencies required 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 emphasized the importance of establishing an integrated system for preparing 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 objectives of sustainable academic development.
Department of Media and Government Communication
Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research
23 June 2026
