University President’s Address
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Praise be to God, Lord of the Worlds, and peace and blessings be upon His chosen and trustworthy Messenger, Muhammad, and upon his pure and righteous family. Iraq is distinguished by possessing the third largest oil reserves in the world, after Saudi Arabia and Iran. Three-quarters of these reserves are concentrated in seven giant oil fields: West Qurna, Rumaila, Majnoon, Kirkuk, East Baghdad, Zubair, and Bin Omar. All of these fields, except for Kirkuk and East Baghdad, are located in southern Iraq, specifically in Basra Governorate. This makes the governorate and Iraq in dire need of a specialized university to graduate qualified personnel capable of managing Iraq's oil and gas wealth and related industries in the future, in accordance with the demands of the labor market. Based on the foregoing, and with God's blessings, on February 26, 2014, pursuant to the Eighth Amendment to the Higher Education and Scientific Research Law No. (40) of 1988, dated December 17, 2013, and under the direct supervision of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, the University of Basra for Oil and Gas was established. It is the first specialized university in the field of energy in Iraq, encompassing the following specializations: Oil and Gas Extractive Industries Engineering, Renewable Energy Engineering, and Electricity Generation, Transmission, and Distribution Engineering. In addition, it offers other required and supporting specializations to bolster the energy sector in Iraq. The university has adopted a specific strategy for developing its educational plans, curricula, and programs to align with those of reputable international universities across all energy-related fields, in accordance with the requirements of the Integrated National Energy Strategy, which was approved by the Council of Ministers in June 2013 as the state's energy policy. The university strives to establish cultural and scientific agreements with international universities both regionally and globally, aiming for excellence and to reach the same level as those universities in terms of visiting professors, training and development of teaching staff, and ambitious programs. The University of Basra for Oil and Gas also seeks to collaborate and engage with oil companies operating in the oil sector, particularly in Basra Governorate and Iraq in general. The university adopts a quality assurance and academic accreditation program in its comprehensive plans and seeks accreditation from leading international organizations in this field, including ABET. My heartfelt wishes to all our dear students for excellence and success in their current academic lives and future careers, so that the fruits of our efforts—students, professors, and technical staff—may contribute to the prosperity of our beloved Iraq and the development of its resources.
May God grant us success.