During his opening remarks at the workshop, which was attended by representatives from both organizations, several university presidents, the Director General of Studies, Planning, and Follow-up, and a number of specialists, the Deputy of the Ministry for Scientific Research, Prof. Dr. Haider Abd Dhahd emphasized the importance of developing the technical and vocational education and training system and keeping pace with modern trends in micro-certification to meet labor market demands and development needs.

Prof. Dr. Haider Abd Dhahd welcomed the participants and expressed his appreciation for the cooperation with international organizations in supporting efforts to develop education and training in Iraq.

The Deputy stressed the importance of working to establish a legislative and regulatory framework for micro-certification in coordination and cooperation with the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, this framework would ensure the regulation of this pathway, the accreditation of its outcomes, and their recognition according to approved national standards.

Prof. Dr. Haider Abd Dhahd reviewed that the workshop addressed the concept of micro-certifications, their associated global trends and standards, their core competency-based characteristics, their cumulative and verifiable nature, and their relevance to labor market needs and the anticipated benefits for young men and women, vulnerable groups, and internally displaced persons, highlighting the importance of this pathway in expanding learning and skills development opportunities in Iraq.

The Deputy highlighted that the workshop demonstrated UNICEF's role in supporting the development and implementation of the micro-certification pilot project in Iraq, focusing on the transition from learning to earning, promoting inclusivity, and leveraging international best practices and experiences. It also examined the project's rationale and its alignment with the National Technical and Vocational Qualifications Framework (TVQF) and relevant national strategies.

Prof. Dr. Haider Abd Dhahd also reviewed that the workshop addressed mechanisms for making micro-certificate programs accessible to youth, people with disabilities, and internally displaced persons and ways to involve employers and labor unions in identifying required skills and designing programs that align with labor market needs and professional development requirements.

Fort their part, the participants said the quality assurance framework, verification and recognition mechanisms for micro-certifications, and the role of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and its affiliated institutions in developing this pathway, as well as its alignment with national reforms and initiatives supported by international partners.

For his part, President of the Middle Technical University, Prof. Dr. Wadah Amer Hatem Al-Tamimi emphasized the crucial role of technical universities in combining academic knowledge with practical skills to produce graduates more closely aligned with the evolving demands of the labor market.

Media and Government Communication Directorate

Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research

August 19, 2026