Al-Zahraa University for Women, represented by President Prof. Dr. Zainab Al-Mulla Al-Sultani and Prof. Dr. Ali J'afar Al-Husseini, the Director of the Department of Scientific Affairs responded to the invitation extended by Prof. Dr. 'Amr Ezzat Salama, the Secretary-General of the Association of Arab Universities, to participate in the proceedings of the Association’s 57th session, hosted by the International University of Science and Technology in the State of Kuwait.

During the conference, Prof. Dr. Baha' Insaf, the President of the University of Baghdad, handed over the leadership of the new session to Prof. Dr. Barakat Al-Hudaiban, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the International University in Kuwait.

The sessions opened with the wide participation of representatives of Arab universities and international organisations. Additionally, the discussions emphasised the importance of strengthening academic cooperation among Arab universities and advancing higher education to meet the requirements of the educational process in the modern era.

During the visit, Prof. Dr. Al-Sultani delivered an address highlighting Iraq’s contribution to supporting the Palestinian cause, particularly the crisis in Gaza. She further highlighted the role of the Iraqi Government, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and Imam Hussein Holy Shrine in providing ongoing support and managing refugee affairs, in addition to opening the doors of Iraqi universities to Palestinian students to continue their academic studies.

The University’s delegation participated in all conference sessions, which focused on the role of Arab academic rankings and the importance of the impact factor of Arab scientific journals. The sessions also addressed the development of academic curricula, with an emphasis on emerging specialisations such as Artificial Intelligence Engineering and Cybersecurity Engineering, as well as the transition towards the digital world and the paperless University environment.

It's significant to point out that Al-Zahraa University for Women’s participation in the conference represented an important step towards strengthening the presence of Iraqi universities in Arab academic forums and activating the role of the Association of Arab Universities in supporting the advancement of higher education and developing academic curricula in a manner that enhances their global presence.

Translated by Zahra’ Ala’