The first 400 students to be sent under the scholarship program are announced by the prime minister

INA-  Baghdad


Within a comprehensive scholarship program that encompasses 5,000 scholarship students, Prime Minister Mohamed Shia Al-Sudani announced today, Thursday, the scholarship of the first 400 students. 
 
 As part of the government's scholarship program, which includes 5,000 scholarship students to advanced international universities, the Prime Minister's Media Office announced during the Ambition and Creativity Forum that 400 male and female students in various scientific disciplines will receive scholarships to reputable international universities. This announcement was made during the forum, which was held under the theme "scholarship candidates are ambition and creativity." The Iraqi News Agency (INA) obtained a statement from the Prime Minister's Media Office.
 
Appreciating the efforts of the Ministry of Higher Education, college deans, the Supreme Committee, directors general, the Prime Minister's Office, and the Interviews Committee in preparing the first group of our sons on scholarships to universities worldwide, the Prime Minister approved "this step on the road to scientific consolidation."
  
"The scholarship program relied, for the first time, on scientific and professional standards and transparent procedures away from exceptions and favoritism, without being subject to any political interference," he emphasized. "The competencies and areas required for the needs of the country and to address the labor market gap have been determined, stressing that the outputs of education must be commensurate with the actual need and practical requirements for development," he said, adding that "the matter was entrusted to the competent committees in order to achieve the principle of equal opportunities and to get the best among our children in all parts of Iraq."
 
"We started with 5,000 scholarship students, and today we are witnessing the first batch of our sons and their nomination to advanced universities to improve the scientific reality, and provide our institutions with the required skills, through a qualitative scholarship for what we need," he said, stating that "at the beginning of the government's work, we launched the National Strategy for Education 2022–2030, which is an action map to increase quality and efficiency, and includes all institutions of society."   
 
He noted that "the need to keep pace with the rapid development in the education sector, to face the challenges of the past stage, wars, blockade and terrorism, which caused a gap between Iraq and the world," and that "the goal is not so much to increase the number of higher degrees, as much as the need for higher degrees and specializations that touch the requirements of the government program and enable it to keep pace with the world."
 
 
Noting that "the education sector has always been present in the program, and no development renaissance can arise unless it starts from education," he continued, saying that "students have been deprived for many years of studying abroad, and from keeping pace with the development of international universities." 
 
"Students who receive scholarships should be serious, dedicated, and focused on their studies and research. This will benefit both them and their families as well as the country." He continued, saying, "You are ambassadors representing Iraq during your scholarship program; you reflect the reality of Iraq and its values and principles; you Iraqis represent your country the best."
 
He went on, "We will take care of all the requirements and what is necessary for the success of your mission through our embassies and our follow-up to the scholarship program. You must invest time and effort, ideally, in study and scientific research and achieve the set goals."
 
"Your return to serve Iraq is a sincere expression of belonging, loyalty, and social responsibility," he said, adding, "It is important that you choose research that addresses the Iraqi reality and enables to push forward our national development programs. We do not want to repeat previous mistakes in the educational initiative, and the problems made by some students not to return, and they brought us into legal suffering incurred even by their families."