Under the auspices of the President of the University of Basrah, Prof. Dr. Saad Shaheen Hammadi, the University of Basrah inaugurated its second cultural week with Ferdowsi University of Mashhad in the Islamic Republic of Iran, in the presence of the representative of the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Director of the Scholarships and Cultural Relations Department, Dr. Hazim Baqer, the President of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Dr. Ahad Dabti and the representative of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Sayyid Mojtaba Hosseini, members of the Basrah University Council, and a large audience of government officials, as well as academics and students.
On the goal of renewing the cultural forum, the university president, Prof. Dr. Saad Shaheen Hammadi, said, "This forum, which is sponsored by the University of Basrah in its second edition, is equivalent to the first edition, which was held by Ferdowsi University in December of last year on the territory of the Islamic Republic. Today's forum aims to Introducing the culture, literature and arts of the two universities and strengthening the bonds of the academic relationship between them in implementation of the provisions of the academic protocol concluded between our university and Ferdowsi University, which includes the exchange of experiences and cultures according to a divided and scheduled work plan that includes the exchange of teachers and supervisors of postgraduate students, joint research teams and joint publication in scientific journals in addition to holding joint scientific and cultural conferences and seminars and activating fellowships, and so far many of them have been achieved on the ground.
Shaheen added - the cultural week includes in its first and second days the establishment of many scientific and cultural activities, including the holding of scientific lectures by professors from Ferdowsi University, folkloric performances and religious mushaaths for the hosted groups to introduce the Basri public to Persian culture, and the opening of a calligraphy and decoration workshop in the College of Fine Arts in cooperation with the Cultural Center as well as an exhibition of fine drawing, an exhibition of the joint book, a forum, a Qur’anic competition, joint matches for futsal, chess, volleyball, and many cultural and artistic events.
For his part, the President of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad expressed his gratitude for strengthening the bonds of cultural and scientific relations between Iraqi and Iranian universities by saying: I offer the best welcome and greetings to Iraqi universities, especially the University of Basrah, and the meeting of this day, which represents great importance between the two universities in deepening cultural and scientific relations, as the commonalities between us are more than any thing. We are now focusing on expanding these contributions, and we are proud at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad that there are about (1000) Iraqi students enrolled in postgraduate studies for master's and PhD degrees and for various specializations.
The representative of the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Dr. Hazem Baqer, said in his speech about the forum: On this qualitative occasion, the specificity of university institutions and their cultural and scientific identity is highlighted in creating a suitable environment for cultural and knowledge exchange, consolidating the policy of cooperation and shortening scientific distances by means of openness and not being limited to the scientific climate. Rather, it is the launch into the space of positive interaction, and that the cultural week between the two universities represents one of the most important goals of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research to leave the unilateral and local paths and achieve a kind of scientific and cultural cross-pollination with the international scientific systems.
Science and knowledge have reached a stage of importance in our modern era. The importance of the strength of capital outweighs its presence and foundation in the areas of sustainable development, and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research is keen to build cultural and academic partnerships with friendly universities. I congratulate the University of Basrah for the success of its forum today, as it has charted an international path for itself that fits the identity of this ancient city through its establishment of the various activities of the forum.
