Home
Iraq Unveils Plan to Revamp Science Infrastructure
Posted on 28 December 2012. Tags: Universities
Pages: 1 2
According to a report from SciDev.Net, the Iraqi government plans to spend more than $9 billion over the next five years to rebuild its scientific research infrastructure and bolster science and technology education.
Ali Al-Adeeb, the country’s minister of higher education and scientific research, said the plans involve establishing 12 universities and 28 research centres, and overhauling facilities in existing universities that have a scientific focus.
Abdul Salam AlJmas, director of research and development at the Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research, told SciDev.Net that the new universities will be spread throughout the country, with some specialising in science, medicine, engineering and agriculture.
He added that the plan also includes allocating $70 million to train research and academic staff, such as sending them abroad for up to three months for education and training.
Iraqi professor Mohamed Al-Rubeai, head of bioprocess engineering and director of the Cell Culture Engineering Research Centre at University College Dublin, tells SciDev.Net that “Iraqi public universities today are experiencing a crisis because of the shortage of highly trained faculty members and researchers: those that possess vast experience and have an international reputation”.
He adds that huge financial resources are needed to retrain scientists in Iraq and to offer attractive jobs to encourage expatriate Iraqi scientists to return home. This step should be prioritised over establishing the new universities because the facilities may otherwise fail to hire high-quality staff, he warns.
Nahla Mandalawi, professor of psychology at the University of Baghdad, argues that the plan “is ambitious and could help improve the scientific research sector in Iraq, but only if it is implemented”.
She says that such plans should not be subject to political interference, “which is the method used today to stop and drop many development projects in Iraq”.
Before the Gulf War in 2003, Iraq had 20 universities and 60 research centres. It currently has 28 and 72 respectively. By implementing the new five-year plan, Iraq will have 40 universities and 100 research centres.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
Posted on 28 December 2012. Tags: Universities
Pages: 1 2
According to a report from SciDev.Net, the Iraqi government plans to spend more than $9 billion over the next five years to rebuild its scientific research infrastructure and bolster science and technology education.
Ali Al-Adeeb, the country’s minister of higher education and scientific research, said the plans involve establishing 12 universities and 28 research centres, and overhauling facilities in existing universities that have a scientific focus.
Abdul Salam AlJmas, director of research and development at the Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research, told SciDev.Net that the new universities will be spread throughout the country, with some specialising in science, medicine, engineering and agriculture.
He added that the plan also includes allocating $70 million to train research and academic staff, such as sending them abroad for up to three months for education and training.
Iraqi professor Mohamed Al-Rubeai, head of bioprocess engineering and director of the Cell Culture Engineering Research Centre at University College Dublin, tells SciDev.Net that “Iraqi public universities today are experiencing a crisis because of the shortage of highly trained faculty members and researchers: those that possess vast experience and have an international reputation”.
He adds that huge financial resources are needed to retrain scientists in Iraq and to offer attractive jobs to encourage expatriate Iraqi scientists to return home. This step should be prioritised over establishing the new universities because the facilities may otherwise fail to hire high-quality staff, he warns.
Nahla Mandalawi, professor of psychology at the University of Baghdad, argues that the plan “is ambitious and could help improve the scientific research sector in Iraq, but only if it is implemented”.
She says that such plans should not be subject to political interference, “which is the method used today to stop and drop many development projects in Iraq”.
Before the Gulf War in 2003, Iraq had 20 universities and 60 research centres. It currently has 28 and 72 respectively. By implementing the new five-year plan, Iraq will have 40 universities and 100 research centres.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
