University of Technology host the final stage of university debates

Under the patronage of His Excellency the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Dr. Naeem Al-Aboudi, and under the supervision of the International Academy for Leadership and Development (IALD), and under the slogan (The debater leads the future), the University of Technology hosted the final stage of university debates held by the Department of Studies and Planning in the Ministry under the auspices of the National University of Science and Technology, in the presence of the President of the University of Technology, Professor Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Hassan Al-Ghaban, the Scientific Assistant, Professor Dr. Khawla Salah Al-Khashan, the Administrative Assistant, Professor Dr. Farhad Mohammed Othman, Professor Dr. Ihab Naji Abbas, Director General of the Department of Studies and Planning, and Dr. Maath Salem Abdul Rahman, Director of the International Academy for Leadership and Development, and a number of Iraqi universities that competed in the hall of the Department of Electromechanical Engineering.

The events began with a speech by the President of the University of Technology, in which he expressed (his pride and honor in hosting the University of Technology for this World Cup, which represents a high-level academic platform that provides young people with the opportunity to showcase their intellectual skills and enhance the culture of debate).

Al-Ghaban stressed (his belief that conscious and enlightened dialogue is the key to the progress and prosperity of society and the university’s readiness to support such events as they enhance students’ research and analysis capabilities), extending his thanks to everyone who contributed to the success of this event.

For his part, Professor Dr. Ihab Naji Abbas, Director General of the Department of Studies and Planning, said in his speech (in which he conveyed the greetings and prayers of His Excellency the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Dr. Naeem Al-Aboudi, for the success of this forum, which is a living model of intellectual interaction between university youth as it represents a distinguished opportunity to acquire skills and develop capabilities that refine the student’s personality as it is a platform for challenge and creativity), stressing that (the ministry, with all its components, continues to support academic activities that enhance the status of education at various levels). In a related context, the Director of the International Academy for Leadership and Development described this event as (not just a regular competition between students, but rather a free space for exchanging ideas, discovering talents, and enhancing the spirit of interaction and understanding among the sons of the nation, with the Academy keen to establish a new culture that elevates the status of the word, appreciates the other opinion, and builds a generation capable of facing the challenges of the era with enlightened thought), indicating that (the activities of this World Cup were held with the participation of ninety-one universities from fourteen governorates, including the capital Baghdad, over the course of thirty-one days). The activities included presenting the Academy’s shield to the President of the University of Technology by the Director of the International Academy for Leadership and Development, as well as to the Director General of the Department of Studies and Planning, in addition to presenting visual presentations about the activities of the International Academy for Leadership and Development inside and outside Iraq and its mechanism of work in developing students’ skills and training them to manage dialogue in a civilized manner. Then the debate began between the two teams qualified for the final stage, namely the Mustansiriya University team consisting of three debaters and the Tikrit University team consisting of three debaters. The debate took place between them on the issue (social media sites have distorted the Iraqi cultural identity in unprecedented ways). The two teams presented their visions on this issue based on tangible arguments from reality within a time period specified by the arbitration committee for each debater and according to specific controls. After the debate ended, Tikrit University won first place and Mustansiriya University won second place. The two teams were honored by the President of the University, the Director General of the Department of Studies and Planning, and the Director of the International Academy for Leadership and Development, as well as honoring many students who won the best debates from all teams participating in the debates from various Iraqi universities.