Research Strategy for Iraqi Universities

27-28 Sept 2011: Professor Mohamed Al-Rubeai presented a reserarch strategy for Iraqi Universities at the UNESCO workshop on the status of Scientific Research in Iraq.

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From UNESCO website: “A team of seven Iraqi professors from the Network of Iraqi Scientists Abroad (NISA) further enhanced the outcomes of the meeting by providing experiences and benchmarks applied in the US, UK and Australia as well as lessons learnt, and took steps towards linking Iraqi Scientific Research institutions with their peers worldwide. Most importantly, they identified the priorities and urgent needs for the sector in the future.”

Open news article at UNESCO.org »27-28 Sept 2011: Professor Mohamed Al-Rubeai presented a reserarch strategy for Iraqi Universities at the UNESCO workshop on the status of Scientific Research in Iraq.

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From UNESCO website: “A team of seven Iraqi professors from the Network of Iraqi Scientists Abroad (NISA) further enhanced the outcomes of the meeting by providing experiences and benchmarks applied in the US, UK and Australia as well as lessons learnt, and took steps towards linking Iraqi Scientific Research institutions with their peers worldwide. Most importantly, they identified the priorities and urgent needs for the sector in the future.”

Open news article at UNESCO.org »

Quality Assurance Pilot Project

6-10 June 2011: UNESCO organized a five-day capacity building workshop on techniques and processes of self-assessment of 12 selected Iraqi Colleges of Engineering. […] aimed at reinforcing linkages between Iraqi academics living in Iraq and Iraqi scientists living abroad, this training was conducted by distinguished Iraqi professors serving in famous Universities in UK, USA and Australia. Being members of the Network of Iraqi Scientists Abroad (NISA), the trainers were chosen as much for their accurate educational expertise as for their knowledge of Iraqi Higher Education context and background.

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Review (MS Word) »6-10 June 2011: UNESCO organized a five-day capacity building workshop on techniques and processes of self-assessment of 12 selected Iraqi Colleges of Engineering. […] aimed at reinforcing linkages between Iraqi academics living in Iraq and Iraqi scientists living abroad, this training was conducted by distinguished Iraqi professors serving in famous Universities in UK, USA and Australia. Being members of the Network of Iraqi Scientists Abroad (NISA), the trainers were chosen as much for their accurate educational expertise as for their knowledge of Iraqi Higher Education context and background.

UNESCO article (PDF) »

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Assuring Quality for Higher Education in Iraq

1 March 2011: More than 60 representatives of Iraqi and International universities came together for the first time in Erbil to share experiences and join efforts in assuring quality for higher education in Iraq – an initiative led by UNESCO Iraq Office.

UNESCO article (PDF) »1 March 2011: More than 60 representatives of Iraqi and International universities came together for the first time in Erbil to share experiences and join efforts in assuring quality for higher education in Iraq – an initiative led by UNESCO Iraq Office.

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Teacher Training Network for Iraq

UNESCO Iraq Office organized the 3rd Steering Committee Meeting of the Teacher Training Network for Iraq (TTNI) in Erbil from 20-21 October 2010. They sought to review the implementation of teacher training activities as well as to explore the extension of the areas of cooperation among partner universities and Ministries of Education and Higher Education and Scientific Research in Iraq.

UNESCO article (PDF) »UNESCO Iraq Office organized the 3rd Steering Committee Meeting of the Teacher Training Network for Iraq (TTNI) in Erbil from 20-21 October 2010. They sought to review the implementation of teacher training activities as well as to explore the extension of the areas of cooperation among partner universities and Ministries of Education and Higher Education and Scientific Research in Iraq.

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The international conference on revitalizing research in Kurdistan

The international conference on revitalizing research in Kurdistan was held in Erbil with the participation of 800 from about 77 scientific and research organization.

At the start of the conference member of high committee of the conference, Dr. Beriwan Khailany said “the conference is held in the presence of about 150 of famous scientists, university presidents, research centers or their assistants from about 77 academic and scientific institutes in 17 countries in addition to 43 academics from Iraqi universities outside Kurdistan region and 602 academics from universities inside the region. She stated that the conference is anticipated to have great participation level and will be attended by minister of higher education of Iraq, Dr. Abid Dhiab Al Aljily and Nimat Cubukcu, minister of higher education of Turkey in addition to his Excellency minister of higher education of Kurdistan Region, Professor Dlawer A. Ala`Aldeen. Dr. Khailany added that the workshops will include the analysis and pointing out the policies for research cooperation on the long term, the launch of split-site PhD’s in different disciplines, memorandum of understanding with the invited universities to the conference and the universities in Kurdistan region policies of investment in higher education, assigning places for students admitted in scholarship program and expanding the HCDP, also policies of research management.

Several members of NISA from UK, US, Ireland, Holland and Australia participated in the conference and presented talks on research strategy, higher education, quality of teaching and research, and developing collaborations between Kurdistan universities and NISA members’ universities.The international conference on revitalizing research in Kurdistan was held in Erbil with the participation of 800 from about 77 scientific and research organization.

At the start of the conference member of high committee of the conference, Dr. Beriwan Khailany said “the conference is held in the presence of about 150 of famous scientists, university presidents, research centers or their assistants from about 77 academic and scientific institutes in 17 countries in addition to 43 academics from Iraqi universities outside Kurdistan region and 602 academics from universities inside the region. She stated that the conference is anticipated to have great participation level and will be attended by minister of higher education of Iraq, Dr. Abid Dhiab Al Aljily and Nimat Cubukcu, minister of higher education of Turkey in addition to his Excellency minister of higher education of Kurdistan Region, Professor Dlawer A. Ala`Aldeen. Dr. Khailany added that the workshops will include the analysis and pointing out the policies for research cooperation on the long term, the launch of split-site PhD’s in different disciplines, memorandum of understanding with the invited universities to the conference and the universities in Kurdistan region policies of investment in higher education, assigning places for students admitted in scholarship program and expanding the HCDP, also policies of research management.

Several members of NISA from UK, US, Ireland, Holland and Australia participated in the conference and presented talks on research strategy, higher education, quality of teaching and research, and developing collaborations between Kurdistan universities and NISA members’ universities.

Visit of the representatives of the Network of Iraqi Scientists Abroad to Baghdad: 4-11 October 2008 زيارة ممثلي الشبكة لبغداد

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By invitation from the Minister for Sciences and Technology H.E. Mr Raed Jahid Fahmi, a visit to Iraq was undertaken by Dr Mohamed Al-Rubeai, Dr Dlawer Ala’Aldeen and Dr Riadh Al-Mahaidi to define aspects of cooperation between the Ministry and Iraqi scientists abroad, particularly relevant to providing expertise and support in science and technology and to prepare for the scientific symposium for strategic projects to be held in Baghdad under the patronage of the President of the Republic H.E. Mr Jalal Al-Talabani. The visit included meetings with the Prime Minister H.E. Mr Nuri Al-Maliki and several ministers. In all its meetings the delegation was accompanied by Dr Adil Matloob, advisor to the Ministry of Sciences and Technology and the Network coordinator inside Iraq. We were assisted in our movements and coordination of meetings by Mr Farhad Alauddin and Major General Jalal Hamad Amin, both of whom put a lot of effort to accompany us and provide us with transport in participation with the security officers from MoST.

The delegation met with the Minister for Oil H.E. Dr Hussain Al-Shahristani on Sunday 5 October. The delegation provided a brief presentation introducing the Network. The Minister expressed his contentment with and appreciation for this initiative, confirming Iraq’s need for such action and agreeing to support the symposium and participate in it. The minister delegated Mrs Nihad Mousa, Director of Planning in the Ministry to liaise with the Network. He requested our assistance in the IT Project which the Ministry has undertaken to achieve. We planned to meet with Mrs Nihad later, but the program was too tight.

The next day we met with the Minister for Sciences and Technology H.E. Mr Raed Jahid Fahmi at his office in the Ministry in the presence of the Deputy Minister Dr Samir Al-Attar and Dr Munqidh Al-Bakr, advisor at the Ministry of Industry. There was cordial discourse about how to utilise qualified people abroad and the necessity for providing a common vision of problems and solutions in order to develop sciences and technology in Iraq. The Minister affirmed the significance of regulating the relationship with the government within a future vision and a mechanism based on a legal structure and a memorandum of understanding. He also asserted the necessity for coordination and cooperation among ministries to obtain maximum benefit from available potential and improve performance. He explained that the lack of scientific awareness, reverting to entrenched views and mentality, creates difficulty in clarifying and defining scientific ideas related to innovations and scientific research. Dr Samir Al-Attar talked about scholarships and the danger of their being concentrated in universities only, without having relevance to many of the country’s needs. He understood the necessity for linking universities with Iraq’s and market needs and presented the Ministry’s program. After the meeting we met with Dr Munqidh, advisor at the Ministry of Industry, who informed us of his Ministry’s intention to put in place an industrial strategy for the country. He confirmed the existence of an (old) research plan at the Ministry and a modern evaluation mechanism through which the Network can cooperate with the Ministry for developing its projects. We agreed that the Director General of the Research and Industrial Development Board Dr Hammoodi Abbas will be liaison officer between the Ministry and the Network.

In the evening of the same day there was a meeting with H.E. the Minister of Health Dr Salih Al-Hasnawi. He briefed us on the Ministry’s work, projects, the relationship between the Ministry and physicians abroad and the method of attracting them to work in Iraq without requesting them to stay for good. He proposed a medical project for endemic diseases and public health in which we can participate by presenting a plan in the coming science symposium. He welcomed future links with the Network by nominating a coordinator of high position from the Ministry.

Before this meeting we had met at the hotel with Dr Ahmad Ridha Head of the Investment Board and Mr Abdulraheem Al-Rihaimi Head of the Media Board in the presence of Minister Fahmi. We discussed the Network, its mission, mechanisms and methods of cooperation with the interior of the country.

On the morning of 7 October we met with the Directors General and heads of departments of the MoST. The discussion covered cooperation; utilising Iraqi expertise available abroad; what they want and what they strive for; our function in providing expertise, advice and support; participating in research and training scientists and technicians and providing scientific feasibility studies. They told us about their problems, expectations and interests. Several facilities were proposed for providing assistance and other mechanisms for cooperating with them. They affirmed that the problem is not financial but rather the need for training and material as well as the decline in scientific levels. They suggested that the Network assist in selecting projects; planning; twinning research centres with similar centres abroad and publications.

We visited the Universities of Baghdad, Al-Nahrain and Al-Mustansiriya. We met with Dr Mousa Al-Mousawi, Dr Adnan Al-Janabi, Dr Taqi Al-Mousawi, Dr Riadh Aziz Hadi, Dr Muhammad Al-Ani and others in leading positions at the three universities. We were warmly welcomed at these universities and observed the enthusiasm and expectation for sustainable links with the Network and great willingness for cooperation and utilising our expertise.

On the morning of 8 October we met with the Minister for Higher Education and Scientific Research H.E. Dr Abid Dhiab Al-Ajili at the Ministry in the presence of the Director General of Scientific Supervision. The Minister explained the policy of his Ministry in building a database for Iraqi specializations. We brought o his attention that a similar project is being considered by the MoST, suggesting coordination and cooperation for achieving this project. The Minister affirmed the necessity of keeping in contact in order to give lectures at universities. He told us about the cultural day the Ministry intends to hold, participation in scientific research and joint supervision. He indicated that laboratories were poorly equipped. He also told us about the difficulties facing university staff, scientific promotions, research evaluation, publications and twinning. The Director General informed us about the excellent standard of higher education, doctorate dissertations that obtain international recognition and of the intention of the government and Ministry to raise the scientific standard to previous levels. We extended to the Minister our desire to offer our services because there is a lot of interconnection and common denominators between us and the Ministry’s objectives and functions in the presence of opportunities for cooperation in studying the Ministry’s regulations and laws for coordination with the Ministry, the universities and the MoST to plan for training and research mechanisms.

After visiting Dr Tariq Najim Abdallah Manager of the Prime Minister’s Office, we met the next day with the Prime Minister H.E. Nuri Al-Maliki at his office in the presence of Dr Tariq Najim Abdallah and Dr Abou Mujahid Al-Rikabi. The PM welcomed the delegation, explained his government’s policy on several current issues and their achievements in terminating terrorism and sectarianism. He stressed on the significance of abolishing sectarianism and the quota system; the role of scientists and experts abroad in the country’s resurgence and reconstruction; and the necessity of the return of scientists to Iraq. He requested from the delegation to clarify their objectives and modus operandi with the Iraqi government. He affirmed his concern for linking Iraqi scientists abroad with specialists in Iraq, manifesting his awareness of the achievements of Iraqis and the work of Iraqi academic organisations abroad. He pointed out that the relationship between those inside Iraq and those abroad should neither be transient nor superficial. The PM stressed the necessity of the return of Iraqi scientists to their country and the need to create a mechanism linking the Network to government institutions, a topic which we also stressed. He indicated the significance of the role of the Board of Advisors, encouraging us to meet and consult with them, and promised to think of a suitable mechanism for regulating the relationship between the Network and the government. We affirmed the important role that the Network can play in establishing government institutions. The PM expressed his desire that the Network offer expertise in reconstructing the organisational body for the Iraqi Government, particularly since we have specialists in this subject.

We met with the Head of the Board of Advisors Dr Thamir Ghadhban and three chiefs of the consulting offices. We were introduced to the Board’s activities and modus operandi, where projects are referred from the Department of Cabinet to the Board which submits the relevant studies needed. The Head of the Board gave us examples of some of the projects the Board studied such as treatment of sexual corruption and drugs phenomena; the relationship of regions and governorates with government; the agricultural initiative; and the energy study. He raised the subject of the mechanism through which we can work with the Board and our capacity of submitting a feasibility study about the structural aspect in housing units.

We were invited for dinner by the Deputy PM H.E. Dr Barham Salih together with several political personages, which presented an opportunity for discussing the status of higher education and development in Iraq. The Deputy PM manifested his understanding of our objectives, sympathy with our wishes and willingness to assist us to such an extent that we did not hesitate to state our requests for supporting the symposium and the Network in future. The Deputy PM confirmed all of that and encouraged us to continue our mission with his support.

We were invited to another dinner by Dr Fouad Masoom leader of the Kurdish bloc in Parliament, also attended by the Minister for Sciences and Technology H.E. Mr Raed Fahmi, Mr Labeed Abbawi Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and a number of political personages. We enjoyed listening to valuable opinions about the political situation, which confirmed the desire of Iraqi officials to benefit from our expertise and their willingness to cooperate with us, as well as enjoying tasty Iraqi food.

We were due to give lectures at the Symposium on Building and Developing Scientific and Technological Capacities, held on 9 October at the MoST and attended by the Minister, Ministry officials and employees, representatives from other ministries and the Presidents of Baghdad University and Al-Mustansiriya University. We presented three lectures that were favourably received by the audience. This was followed by a meeting with the Minister, the Presidents of Baghdad and Al-Mustansiriya Universities, the deputy ministers and several directors general. The Minister raised valuable mature opinions about Sciences and Technology policies and strategies, affirming once again the need for participatory work and coordination among ministries and departments with common objectives. He stated that the government lacked a strategy for scientific research and a scientific planning strategy and policy. He said that supporting scientists inside Iraq is most important in this aspect and that the collective brain is not employed now to serve the objectives of development. He confirmed that the Ministry is willing to be the centre of communications to coordinate the linkage between the Network and the interior of the country, maintaining the independence of communications among all parties separately. During this meeting the representative of the Ministry of Health repeated his Minister’s proposal to us in our previous meeting with him about public and preventive health. The audience were responsive to our request for forming a preparatory committee for the scientific symposium and were ready to become members in it.

Summary: We met with Iraqi officials and presented to them our vision of the Network, its objectives and missions. We became convinced that the officials had a strong desire to benefit from scientists abroad.

زيارة ممثلي الشبكة لبغداد

زيارة ممثلي شبكة العلماء العراقيين في الخارج لبغداد في الفترة 4-11 تشرين الاول 2008

بدعوة من وزير العلوم والتكنولوجيا الاستاذ رائد جاهد فهمي زار الوطن كل من د. محمد الربيعي و د. دلاور علاء الدين و د. رياض المهيدي لغرض تحديد افاق التعاون بين الوزارة وبين العلماء العراقيين في الخارج وخاصة فيما يتعلق بتوفير الخبرة والدعم في مجال العلوم والتكنولوجيا والتحضير للندوة العلمية للمشاريع الستراتيجية التي ستعقد في بغداد برعاية السيد رئيس الجمهورية الاستاذ جلال الطالباني، وتضمنت الزيارة لقاءات مع السيد نوري المالكي رئيس الوزراء وعدد من الوزراء. رافق الوفد في جميع زيارته ولقاءاته د. عادل مطلوب مستشار وزارة العلوم والتكنولوجيا ومنسق الشبكة في داخل الوطن. ساعدنا في تنقلنا وتنظيم لقاءاتنا السيد فرهاد علاء الدين واللواء جلال حمد امين حيث بذلوا جهدا كبيرا لمرافقتنا وتأمين تنقلاتنا بمشاركة مسؤولي امن وزارة العلوم والتكنولوجيا.

التقى الوفد بوزير النفط الدكتور حسين الشهرستاني يوم الاحد 5 تشرين الاول. قدم الوفد عرضا قصيرا للتعريف بالشبكة وابدى الوزير اقتناعه وتقديره للمبادرة وأكد على حاجة العراق لمثل هذه المبادرة ووافق على مساندة الندوة والمشاركة فيها. رشح الوزير السيدة نهاد موسى مديرة التخطيط في الوزارة لتكون حلقة الوصل بالشبكة وطلب مساعدتنا في مشروع تكنولوجيا المعلومات الذي تعمل الوزارة على تحقيقه وكان مقررا ان نلتقي بالسيدة نهاد في وقت لاحق الا ان ظروف الزيارة حالت دون ذلك.

التقينا في اليوم التالي بوزير العلوم والتكنولوجيا الاستاذ رائد فهمي في مكتبه بالوزارة بحضور وكيل الوزارة د. سمير العطار ود. منقذ البكر المستشار في وزارة الصناعة وكان بيننا حديثا وديا حول كيفية الاستفادة من الكفاءات في الخارج وحول ضرورة توفير تصور مشترك للمشاكل والحلول لغرض تطوير العلوم والتكنولوجيا في العراق. اكد الوزير على اهمية تنظيم العلاقة مع الدولة بضمن رؤية مستقبلية والية تعتمد على كيان قانوني ومذكرة تفاهم واكد ايضا على ضرورة التنسيق والتعاون بين الوزارات بهدف الاستفادة القصوى من الامكانيات المتوفرة وتحسين الاداء وبين ان عدم توفر الوعي العلمي يخلق صعوبة في توضيح وتعريف الافكار العلمية بما يتعلق بالابتكار والبحث العلمي والتي تعود الى نظرة وعقلية راسخة. وتحدث د. سمير العطار عن البعثات وخطر تركيزها في الجامعات فقط وعدم علاقتها بكثير من احتياجات البلد وابدى تفهما لحاجة ربط الجامعات باحتياجات العراق والسوق وقدم عرضا لبرنامج الوزارة. اجتمعنا بعد اللقاء بالدكتور منقذ مستشار وزارة الصناعة الذي ابلغنا بنية وزارته لوضع ستراتيجية صناعية للبلد، واكد على وجود خطة بحثية (قديمة) للوزارة والية تقويم حديثة من خلالهما تستطيع الشبكة التعاون مع الوزارة لتطوير مشاريعها واتفقنا على ان يكون المدير العام لهيئة البحث والتطوير الصناعي الدكتور حمودي عباس ضابط التنسيق بين الوزارة والشبكة.

وفي مساء نفس اليوم تم اللقاء بالدكتور صالح الحسناوي وزير الصحة الذي قدم لنا نبذة قصيرة عن عمل الوزارة ومشاريعها وعن علاقة الوزارة باطباء الخارج وعن اسلوب استقطابهم للعمل في العراق من دون الطلب بالبقاء بصورة دائمية. اقترح مشروعا طبيا متعلقا بالامراض المستوطنة والصحة العامة يمكن لنا المشاركة فيه بتقديم خطة في الندوة العلمية المقبلة ورحب بالعلاقة المستقبلية بالشبكة عن طريق ترشيح منسق عالي الدرجة في الوزارة.

وكنا قبل هذا اللقاء قد التقينا وفي الفندق بالدكتوراحمد رضا رئيس هيئة الاستثمار والسيد عبد الرحيم الرهيمي رئيس هيئة الاعلام بحضور الاستاذ رائد فهمي. تحدثنا فيه حول الشبكة ومهماتها وألية واساليب التعاون مع الداخل.

في صباح يوم 7 تشرين الاول التقينا بالمدراء العامين ورؤساء الدوائرلوزارة العلوم والتكنولوجيا ودار الحديث حول التعاون والاستعانة بالخبرات العراقية المتوفرة في الخارج وعن ماذا يريدون وماذا يسعون اليه وعن مهمتنا في تقديم الخبرة والاستشارة والدعم والمشاركة في البحوث وفي تدريب العلماء والفنيين وتقديم الدراسات العلمية حول الجدوى. وحدثونا حول مشاكلهم وتطلعاتهم ورغباتهم وتم اقتراح عدة وسائل لتقديم المساعدة وحول اليات التعاون الاخرى معهم. اكدوا ان المشكلة ليست مالية وانما هي الحاجة الى التدريب والمواد وتدنى المستويات العلمية. اقترحوا ان تساعد الشبكة في اختيار المشاريع والتخطيط وفي تومأة المراكز البحثية مع المراكز المماثلة في الخارج والمساعدة في النشر.

زرنا جامعة بغداد وجامعة النهرين وجامعة المستنصرية والتقينا بالدكتور موسى الموسوي والدكتور عدنان الجنابي والدكتور تقي الموسوي وبالدكتور رياض عزيز هادي والدكتور محمد العاني وبأخرين من قيادات الجامعات الثلاث. كانت الحفاوة بالغة في هذه الجامعات بالاضافة الى الحماسة والتطلع الى علاقات مستديمة مع الشبكة واستعداد بالغ النظير للتعاون والاستفادة من خبراتنا.

صباح يوم 8 تشرين الاول كان لقاءنا مع الدكتور عبد ذياب العجيلي وزير التعليم العالي والبحث العلمي وفي الوزارة بحضور المدير العام للاشراف العلمي. شرح لنا الوزير سياسة وزارته بخصوص بناء بنك معلومات للاختصاصات العراقية بينما اوضحنا للوزير ما تزمع اليه وزارة العلوم والتكنولوجيا من مشروع مماثل واقترحنا التنسيق والتعاون لتحقيق هذا المشروع. اكد الوزير على ضرورة التواصل لالقاء المحاضرات في الجامعات وتحدث عن اليوم الثقافي الذي تزمع الوزارة عقده وعن المشاركة في البحوث العلمية والاشراف المشترك واشار الى تجهيز المختبرات الضعيف ومعاناة الاساتذة والترقيات العلمية وتقييم البحوث والنشر والتومئة. اشار المدير العام الى المستوى الراقي للتعليم العالي واطروحات الدكتوراه التي تحصل على جوائز عالمية وبنية الحكومة والوزارة برفع المستوى العلمي الى ما كان عليه في الماضي. عرضنا على الوزير رغبتنا بتقديم خدماتنا لوجود تداخل كبير وقواسم مشتركة بيننا وبين اهداف وعمل الوزارة وبوجود فرص للتعاون في دراسة تعليمات وقوانين الوزارة وللتنسيق مع الجامعات ووزارة العلوم والتكنولوجيا لرسم الاليات في مجال التدريب والبحث.

بعد زيارة الدكتور طارق نجم عبد الله مدير مكتب رئيس الوزراء تم لقاء السيد رئيس الوزراء نوري المالكي في اليوم التالي في مكتبه بحضور د. طارق نجم عبد الله و د. ابو مجاهد الركابي. رحب رئيس الوزراء بالوفد واوضح سياسة حكومته بالنسبة لعدد من القضايا الراهنة وبمنجزات الحكومة في القضاء على الارهاب والطائفية وشدد على اهمية الغاء الطائفية والمحاصصة وعلى دور العلماء والخبراء في الخارج في نهضة الوطن وفي بنائه وعلى ضرورة عودة العلماء الى العراق وطلب من الوفد توضيح اهدافه والية العمل مع الحكومة العراقية واكد على حرصه على ربط العلماء العراقيين في الخارج بالمختصين في داخل الوطن وابدى علمه بمنجزات العراقيين وبعمل المنظمات العراقية الاكاديمية في الخارج ونبه على ضرورة ان لا تكون العلاقة بين الاثنين عابرة وسطحية. اكد رئيس الوزراء على ضرورة عودة العلماء العراقيين الى الوطن وعلى ضرورة ايجاد الية لربط الشبكة بجهاز الدولة وهو الموضوع الذي اكدنا عليه بدورنا واشار الى اهمية دور هيئة المستشارين وشجعنا على لقاءهم والتشاور معهم ووعدنا بانه سيفكر في الية مناسبة لتنظيم العلاقة بين الشبكة والدولة وبدورنا اكدنا على الدور المهم الذي يمكن للشبكة ان تلعبه في بناء مؤسسات الدولة. فأبدى رئيس الوزراء رغبته في ان تقوم الشبكة بتقديم الخبرة في اعادة بناء الجهاز التنظيمي للدولة العراقية خصوصا اننا نملك متخصصين في هذا الموضوع.

التقينا برئيس هيئة المستشارين الدكتور ثامر غضبان وبثلاثة من رؤساء المكاتب الاستشارية فتعرفنا على نشاطات الهيئة واسلوب عملها حيث تحال المشاريع من رئاسة الوزراء للهيئة التي تقوم بتقديم الدراسات حولها وضرب لنا رئيس الهيئة امثلة على بعض المشاريع التي قامت الهيئة بدراستها كمشروع معالجة ظاهرة الفساد الجنسي والمخدرات وعلاقة الاقاليم والمحافظات مع الدولة والمبادرة الزراعية ودراسات الطاقة وطرح موضوع الالية التي يمكن ان نعمل من خلالها مع الهيئة وعن امكانياتنا من مثل تقديم دراسة جدوى عن الجانب الانشائي والجزر في الوحدات السكنية.

دعينا للعشاء مع الدكتور برهم صالح نائب رئيس الوزراء بحضور عدد من الشخصيات السياسية فكانت فرصة للحديث بشوق عن اوضاع التعليم العالي والتنمية والتطوير في العراق. ابدى نائب رئيس الوزراء تفهما لاهدافنا وتعاطفا مع رغباتنا واستعدادا كبيرا لمساعدتنا بحيث لم نجد صعوبة في طرح طلباتنا بدعم الندوة والشبكة في المستقبل وهو ما اكده نائب رئيس الوزراء لنا وشجعنا على الاستمرار في مهماتنا وبأنه سيكون دائما الى جانبنا.

وفي موعد اخر للعشاء مع الدكتور فؤاد معصوم رئيس الكتلة الكردية في البرلمان العراقي حضره السيد رائد فهمي وزير العلوم والتكنولوجيا والسيد لبيد عباوي وكيل وزير الخارجية وعدد من الشخصيات السياسية. استمتعنا باراء قيمة حول الوضع السياسي وتأكد لنا مدى رغبة المسؤولين العراقيين في الاستفادة من خبراتنا ودرجة استعدادهم للتعاون معنا بالاضافة الى تذوق الاكل العراقي اللذيذ.

وكان موعد القاء المحاضرات في الندوة العلمية حول بناء وتطور القوى العلمية والتكنولوجية في العراق يوم 9 تشرين الاول وذلك في وزارة العلوم والتكنولوجيا حضرها السيد وزير العلوم والتكنولوجيا ومسؤولي الوزارة ومنتسبيها بالاضافة الى ممثلين من الوزارات الاخرى وكل من رئيس جامعة بغداد ورئيس الجامعة المستنصرية. وبعد ان قدمنا ثلاثة محاضرات لقيت استحسان الحاضرين التقينا مع وزير العلوم والتكنولوجيا ورئيسي جامعة بغداد والمستنصرية ووكلاء الوزارة وعدد من المدراء العاميين في لقاء طرح فيه الوزير اراء قيمة وناضجة حول سياسات وستراتيجيات العلوم والتكنولوجيا واكد مرة اخرى على ضرورة العمل المشترك والتنسيق بين الوزارات والدوائر ذات الاهداف المشتركة واشار الى عدم وجود استراتيجية للبحث العلمي عند الدولة وعدم وجود استراتيجية للتخطيط ورسم سياسات العلم واكد ان دعم العلماء في الداخل هو اهم ما يمكن تقديمه في هذا المجال وبان العقل الجماعي غير موظف حاليا لخدمة اهداف التنمية واكد ان الوزارة مستعدة لان تكون مركز الاتصالات لتنسيق الصلة بين الشبكة والداخل مع الحفاظ على استقلالية الاتصالات بين الجميع كل على حده. وخلال اللقاء اعاد ممثل وزارة الصحة تقديم الاقتراح الذي قدمه وزير الصحة خلال لقاءنا معه حول مشروع الصحة العامة والوقاية. استجاب الحضور لطلبنا بتشكيل لجنة تحضيرية للندوة العلمية بابداء استعدادهم لعضويتها.

الخلاصة: التقينا بالمسؤولين العراقيين وطرحنا عليهم رؤيتنا للشبكة واهدافها ومهماتها وتولدت لنا قناعات بوجود رغبة شديدة عند المسؤولين للاستفادة من علماء الخارج.