During a meeting with a delegation from the European Union Delegation to Iraq, headed by Mr. Vim Rietsema, Head of the Partnership, Development, Economic, and Investment Projects Management Unit, President of the University of Kufa, Dr. Alaa Naji Al-Mawla reviewed prospects for scientific and academic cooperation between the two sides.

The University President welcomed the delegation and highlighting the university's most prominent achievements and its academic and research progress and emphasizing its commitment to expand cooperation with the European Union and establishing sustainable scientific partnerships with international universities and research institutions.

The university president emphasized that the University of Kufa's participation in Horizon Europe represents a significant step towards the internationalization of scientific research, providing new opportunities to develop research partnerships and enhance the university's presence within the international research and innovation ecosystem.

For their part, The European Union delegation congratulated the university on this achievement, praising the research team's efforts.

For his part, the university's Vice President for Scientific Affairs reviewed the most prominent EU programs and grants available to Iraqi universities, including Erasmus+, academic exchange programs, and capacity-building initiatives.

For his part, the head of the research team, Professor Dr. Ali Abdul Hussein Shukr, presented the project's objectives and focus areas, which include artificial intelligence, explainable artificial intelligence, researcher exchange, knowledge transfer, and developing research capabilities.

The meeting also addressed opportunities to expand the participation of researchers and faculty members in European grants and programs, and to organize scientific events to raise awareness of these opportunities and application procedures, thereby supporting research collaboration and institutional communication between the two sides.

It is worth mentioning that the meeting was attended by the Vice President for Scientific Affairs, Professor Abbas Talib Al-Hadabi, the Vice President for Administrative Affairs, Professor Rasha Al-Hatimi, and the head and members of the research team participating in the Horizon Europe-Marie Curie Research Staff Exchange Project, in which the University of Kufa is the first Iraqi university to participate.

Media and Government Communication 

Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research

August 13, 2026