French delegation visits Department of Petroleum and Gas Engineering

The University of Technology and its Department of Petroleum and Gas Engineering hosted a French delegation headed by Ms. Bernadette Chou, the Attachée for University Cooperation at the French Embassy in Baghdad. This visit was in line with the directives of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research to foster openness and scientific cooperation with French universities, and in accordance with the Scientific, Cultural, and Research Cooperation Agreement between the Ministry and the French Embassy in 2023.

The visit aimed to enhance international academic openness and encourage students to develop their academic paths. The scientific visit included a meeting with the Head of the Department, Professor Dr. Fadhil Sarhan Kadhim, the Scientific Associate Professor Dr. Imad Abdul Hussein Fakher, the Administrative Associate Professor Dr. Ramzi Sayhood Hamid, and members of the council. Following this, a familiarization tour was conducted through the department’s corridors and scientific laboratories to introduce the delegation to the department’s most important achievements in the field of petroleum education and research. Furthermore, a scientific introductory lecture was given to faculty and students by the French side, addressing the prospects for study, scientific, and research cooperation with French universities. Subsequently, the French delegation met with the Assistant Presidents of the University for Scientific Affairs, Professor Dr. Khawla Salah Khashan, and for Administrative Affairs, Professor Dr. Farhad Mohammed Othman, in the presence of the Scientific and Administrative Associates in the Department of Petroleum and Gas.

The visit resulted in arranging the procedures and requirements for the opening of the French Corner, which will serve as a scientific gateway for correlation with French universities within the Department of Petroleum and Gas Engineering, in cooperation with Campus France and the Institut français in Baghdad. It also aimed to open avenues for scientific, cultural, and research cooperation with French universities, as well as to explore cooperation with French companies operating in Iraq and specializing in energy, oil, and gas, to link the department’s outputs with the labor market and contribute to the development of educational and training curricula.