Dr. Fadia Yaqoub Yousef, a faculty member at the College of Education for Women, University of Basrah, participated—alongside fellow faculty member Khawla Abdul-Shahid—in the Third International Scientific Conference for Applied, Social, and Humanistic Research. The conference was held in collaboration with the General Directorate of Education in Basrah under the theme: "Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence in Building Education, Pedagogy, and Scientific Research Systems: Multidisciplinary Perspectives Toward a Sustainable Future."The conference proceedings took place at the Basrah Governorate headquarters. It was organized by the Ajyal Al-Rafidain Foundation for Educational Development—led by Dr. Alaa Thabit Jasim—in partnership with the General Directorate of Education in Basrah. The event saw the participation of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (Department of Research and Development), the Ministry of Education, the University of Sulaimani, the Duhok Polytechnic University, and various other research institutions and centers.The conference drew a significant number of official and academic attendees, including the Chairman of the Basrah Provincial Council, Mr. Khalaf Al-Badran; Deputy Governor Mr. Maher Al-Amiri; and the Director General of Education in Basrah, Mr. Abdul-Razzaq Faisal Abdul-Hamid. Also in attendance were members of the Provincial Council, university presidents, college deans, and a distinguished group of academics and researchers from various Iraqi universities and institutions. The two faculty members participated by presenting their research, titled "Transformations in the Historical Method, Sources, and Challenges in Arab Academic Research in the Digital Age: A Contemporary Historical Study." The research examines the shifts occurring in historical inquiry in light of digital advancement, along with the associated challenges concerning historical sources, the reliability of information, and the mechanisms for producing and disseminating knowledge within the digital environment.The study highlights the importance of evolving the tools of the historical method to keep pace with technological developments, while maintaining rigorous scientific and critical standards in handling sources and information. It further emphasizes the need to foster critical historical thinking to counter misinformation, preserve human memory, and better understand major historical transformations.The research concludes that it is essential for scholars in the field of Arab history to engage actively with the digital age—not merely as users of technology, but as critical agents who help shape and direct its application to advance historical knowledge and academic research.
