The Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Dr. Naim Al-Aboudi, honored the researchers from Northern Technical University who won the fifth edition of the Al-Ayen Iraqi University Award for Academic Researchers. The award recipients were:

•Prof. Dr. Omar Khalil Ahmed, Dean of Al-Hawija Technical Institute

•Asst. Prof. Dr. Ubaid Majeed Ali, Dean of the College of Engineering for Oil and Gas Technologies

In his address during the ceremony, the Minister emphasized the Ministry’s strong commitment to this pathway, which has led to the launch and sponsorship of numerous initiatives and awards related to scientific research. He noted that the Ministry and Iraqi universities have achieved significant progress in terms of impact, participation, and contribution to the research landscape, through two main tracks: enhancing the global standing of research publications and providing direct service to society through engagement with its issues and challenges.

The event featured speeches by the President of Al-Ayen Iraqi University, Dr. Haider Abdul Ameer Marhoon; the representative of Elsevier in the Middle East, Dr. Diaa Midhat; and a representative of the award-winning researchers, the Undersecretary of the Ministry for Scientific Research Affairs, Dr. Haider Abdul Zahd. The ceremony concluded with Dr. Naim Al-Aboudi honoring distinguished Iraqi researchers, leading researchers from Iraqi universities, and several university presidents, while commending the efforts of the organizers of the fifth edition of the Al-Ayen Iraqi University Award, which represents an added opportunity to enrich knowledge and stimulate expertise and sustainable scientific innovation.