University of Victoria participates in the Arab University Leadership Conference

USPA NEWS -
The Arab University Leaders Conference ends its work by unifying the visions of universities in achieving the goals of sustainable development 2030.
His Excellency Prof. Amr Ezzat Salama, Secretary-General of the Association of Arab Universities (AARU), concluded on Wednesday evening 28 July 2021 the work of the Arab University Leaders Conference (Towards a unified vision for Arab universities in achieving the goals of sustainable development 2030), which was held over two days by the Swedish-Iraqi Network for Studies at the Center for Middle East Studies Lund University in Sweden, the International Friendship Organisation in Sweden, and Amman Arab University in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

The opening ceremony session was moderated by Prof. Dr. Balqis Al-Kibsi from the Republic of Yemen from the (Arab Dhad Forum) at the Knowledge Enrichment Academy (KIA).
The conference began with a recitation of the Holy Quran by the student reader, Muhammad Amin Khamis Mahdi from the University of Anbar in Iraq.

His Excellency the Secretary-General delegated on his behalf to sponsor the conference, Prof. Dr. Khamisi Hamidi, Assistant Secretary-General of the Association of Arab Universities, where he delivered the union’s speech in which he expressed his pleasure for holding this conference with the participation of many Arab university presidents to deliver working papers of their universities’ vision in achieving sustainable development goals 2030.

Then the speeches of the three organizers followed, in the presence of more than 40 Arab university presidents and His Excellency Prof. Muhammad Al-Hashimi, the cultural attaché at the Iraqi Embassy in London, 187 Dean of the College and a large number of academics and researchers from universities, scientific research centers, scientific societies, unions and civil society organisations. The organisation and the academies of enriching knowledge and friendship are looking for rehabilitation and development to support efforts in achieving the goals of sustainable development 2030, and pointed out that the organisation has recently opened an important center for sustainable development media.

Then, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Al-Widyan, President of Amman Arab University, gave a speech in which he referred to the efforts made by the university to achieve the seventeen goals of sustainable development.
The speech of the Swedish-Iraqi Network at the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at the Swedish University of Lund is given by its president, Professor Dr. Sameer Al-Jiboury The network has three forums and two research teams in sustainable development. The network has also sponsored many conferences, workshops and seminars with Iraqi, Arab and European universities.

The last speech in the opening session was of Prof. Dr. Eng. Yousef Al-Mashhadani, President of the Academy of Enriching Knowledge in the International Friendship Organisation and Chairman of the Preparatory Committee, in which he reviewed the work steps since the agreement between the Swedish-Iraqi Network, the International Friendship Organisation and Amman Arab University to hold the conference, then the stage of inviting Arab universities, receiving its working papers about its plans to achieve the sustainable development goals, forming conference committees, setting its program, and distributing universities’ working papers over two days in six sessions with a total of 29 working papers from the following organising partners and universities:

The Swedish-Iraqi Network for Studies, Knowledge Enrichment Academy, Friendship Academy for Rehabilitation and Development in Sweden, Amman Arab University in Jordan, University of Victoria in London, United Kingdom,
Al-Kitab University, University of Basra, University Northern Technology, Hamdaniyah University, Mashreq University, Al-Nahrain University, Babylon University, Dhi Qar University, University of Kirkuk, Al-Isra University College, Al-Hilla University College, Al-Salam University College, Al-Manara University College, and Al Furat Al Awsat Technical University in Iraq,

Irbid Private University, University of Business and Technology in Saudi Arabia, Middle East University, Jordan University of Science, Yarmouk University and Technology in Jordan, Al Quds Open University in Palestine, Lebanese University in Lebanon, Helwan University, Damietta University, Ain Shams University in Arab Egypt.

During the first day, a video was shown about the achievements of the Swedish-Iraqi Network for Studies at the Center for Middle Eastern Studies and about the great progress achieved by Amman Arab University and the university’s programs in initial and graduate studies, as well as an overview of the Knowledge Enrichment Academy in the International Friendship Organisation in The Kingdom of Sweden and about the achievements of the Academy’s forums and departments since its launch on August 22, 2020.

After that, the scientific session began, headed by Prof. Khaled Al-Tarawneh, Dean of the College of Engineering / Amman Arab University, and session rapporteur Prof. Abdul Halim Ali Al-Muhyi, University of Basra, Knowledge Enrichment Academy / International Friendship Organisation, in which three working papers from Asia, Africa and Europe were presented. The first paper of Amman Arab University was delivered by His Excellency Prof. Dr. Muhammad Al-Widyan, President of the University, and the second of Ain Shams University was delivered by the Vice President of the University on behalf of Prof. Mahmoud Al-Matini, President of the University.

The third paper of the University of Victoria in London was delivered by Prof. Dr. Wissam Al-Sheikhly, President of the University, and Dr. Rami Al-Hadeethi, Vice President for International Relations, where he presented Professor Al-Sheikhly presented a presentation about the university and its priorities in sustainable development and the programs offered by the university in this field. At the end of his speech, he expressed the desire of University of Victoria in London to host the second edition of the conference in 2022. Then Dr. Al-Hadeethi delivered a distinguished presentation about University of Victoria, which won the audience’s admiration, in which he focused on: Four sustainable development goals relate to partnerships, quality education, 21st century skills skills acquisition and jobs market of the digital economy.

On the second day of the conference, 26 working papers were presented in five sessions. Each session was chaired by a college dean from the universities participating in the conference.

Dr. Safaa Al-Hamayda, Chairman of the Public Relations Committee of the organisation, chaired the closing session, which began with an important presentation by Professor Dr. Muhammad Al-Anbari from the University of Babylon, head of the Committee for Unifying the Visions of Universities, where he presented a working vision representing Arab universities with a report prepared by the Committee after studying all working papers Provided by the university.

After that, the recommendations of the conference were presented by Prof. Muhammad Ateer from Amman Arab University Chairman of the recommendations committee, which were submitted by the heads and rapporteurs of the six scientific sessions and the conference committees, and which will be submitted to Prof. Dr. Amr Ezzat Salama, Secretary-General of the Association of Arab Universities.

In conclusion, there were wonderful interventions by the honorable attendees, in which they expressed their happiness and what the conference had achieved. Others gave words of thanks and congratulations to His Excellency the Secretary-General of Arab Universities and to the organizing bodies of the conference and to the participating universities with working papers on their plan to achieve the goals of sustainable development 2030.

It is noteworthy that other Arab universities participated without working papers, and their presence was important in enriching discussions about the plans of the participating universities with working papers, and among those universities there was an important presence of the President of Karbala University, Jadara University in Jordan, Mogadishu University in Somalia, Anbar University, Nineveh University and Polytechnic University in Dohuk, Mesopotamia University College, and Iraq University College.

We will meet you in the second edition of the conference in presence at a university in 2022 with the help of God Almighty.


International Friendship Organisation