Department of Scientific Affairs

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful And say, “My Lord, increase me in knowledge.” Scientific and academic development in modern universities is no longer confined to educational activities alone. Rather, it increasingly relies on the systematic organisation and monitoring of scientific and academic procedures to ensure academic rigour and enhance the quality of higher education. In this context, the Department of Scientific Affairs at Al-Zahraa University for Women plays a pivotal role as one of the University’s key departments, contributing to the advancement of scientific and academic activities and the development of the university environment in accordance with recognised scientific standards. The Department comprises the Scientific Affairs Division and the University Journals Unit, as well as the Arab and International Students Division, which oversees the affairs of female students arriving from outside Iraq under the Study in Iraq programme. It also provides the necessary academic and administrative procedures and facilities, thereby contributing to an enriched university environment and fostering scientific and cultural exchange between the University and various Arab and foreign countries. The Department organises and conducts scientific conferences, seminars, workshops and specialised training courses in coordination with the University’s various faculties. It also monitors academic lectures and scientific workshops in line with the requirements of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. Furthermore, the Department oversees local and international scientific agreements and memoranda of understanding, documenting them and monitoring their implementation, in addition to processing academic promotion applications in accordance with approved regulations and instructions. The Department verifies the authenticity of Master’s and doctoral degrees and oversees the evaluation of academic qualifications and titles. It also monitors the scientific publications of teaching staff and researchers in Scopus and Clarivate-indexed databases, as well as in reputable international and local scholarly journals. In addition, it administers scientific publication incentives and encourages researchers from within and outside the University to publish in reputable scholarly journals. The Department also monitors the University’s official academic accounts and scientific expertise systems. Moreover, the Department works to establish research groups, strengthen scientific collaboration and foster communication with reputable universities. It also develops collaborative academic relationships with professors and researchers serving as visiting professors, thereby promoting the exchange of scientific knowledge and expertise and advancing the University’s academic and research environment. The Department oversees the annual scientific plans of the faculties and academic departments, monitoring their implementation rates. It also follows up on graduation projects and coordinates the formation of their discussion committees with the relevant authorities. Furthermore, it processes and endorses requests relating to the participation of senior University personnel, teaching staff and researchers in activities inside and outside Iraq. Its responsibilities also include endorsing authored academic books and laboratory manuals for scientific laboratories, as well as processing no-objection letters for lecturers and applicants seeking admission to postgraduate studies. The University Journals Unit monitors the University’s scholarly journals and works to develop them in accordance with academic standards and the requirements of indexing and reputable scholarly publishing, thereby supporting scientific activity and strengthening academic rigour across the University. Under the direct guidance and supervision of Prof. Dr. Ali J'afar Al-Husseini, the Head of the Department, the Department continues its efforts to enhance scientific and academic operations and improve the quality of its academic services in alignment with the University’s vision and aspirations for scientific and institutional excellence.