Commencement of the 4th International Conference on Law and International Relations at Cihan University-Erbil
Under the auspices of Dr. Aram Mohammed Qadir, the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and with the participation of a substantial gathering of international, local, and Iraqi researchers, Cihan University-Erbil, in collaboration with Jadara University in Jordan, officially commenced the fourth international academic conference on the ‘Legal and Political Frameworks of Righteous Government.’
On Wednesday, December 6, 2023, Assistant Professor Dr. Mohammed Hussein, representing the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, alongside several Directors General of the Ministry, Omid Khoshnaw, Governor of Erbil, Professor Dr. Habes Mohammad Hatamleh, the President of Jadara University, Jordan, academics, researchers and lecturers attended in inaugurating the conference titled “‘Legal and Political Frameworks of Righteous Government”. The conference initiated its proceedings with a solemn moment of silence dedicated to the memory of the martyrs, followed by the recitation of several verses from the Holy Quran in the conference hall of Cihan University-Erbil.
Subsequently, Prof. Dr. Amjad Saber Al-Delawi, President of Cihan University-Erbil, delivered a comprehensive speech. In his speech, he extended a warm welcome to the President of Jadara University, Presidents of various universities, Deans, lecturers, researchers, and esteemed guests. Prof. Dr. Amjad then delved into an overview of the preparations that took more than six months of dedicated efforts by his colleagues from both universities resulted in the successful realization of the event.
Turning his attention to the different facets of the conference, the President of Cihan University-Erbil provided insights into its scope. He highlighted the conference’s significance, featuring 51 original papers from researchers, lecturers, and academics across Jordan, Lebanon, the Sultanate of Oman, Libya, Egypt, Turkey, Iraq, and the Kurdistan Region. These papers covered pivotal and contemporary themes in law and international relations, including legal principles, political conditions, international standards, knowledge building, and artificial intelligence.”
Prof. Dr. Amjad S. Al-Delawi, emphasized the role of good governance in addressing legal and political challenges, promoting electronic frameworks, and aligning with advancements in artificial intelligence. He underlined the conference’s potential to serve as an academic foundation for further development.
Prof. Dr. Amjad S. Al-Delawi, further dedicated a segment of his speech to the pivotal aspects of the conference. He articulated, “The entirety of the research presented at this conference revolves around the pivotal role of a righteous government. It emphasizes the imperative of fostering and fortifying government entities both in legal and political dimensions and shifting towards establishing a legal framework for the realm of electronic governance, harmonizing it with the advancements in artificial intelligence. This is anticipated to yield positive outcomes; enhancement of government functionality and its ability to surmount obstacles. He also elaborated that the conference’s themes would serve as a significant academic foundation for the evolution of scholarly perspectives and academic principles.
The President of Cihan University-Erbil devoted another part of his speech to the recent achievements of Cihan University-Erbil; ranking first among private universities in Kurdistan Region and Iraq, and attaining the second among public and private universities in the Kurdistan Regional Government in the Times Higher Education-Arab University Rankings 2023. Meanwhile, in the current standings of the AD Scientific Index, Cihan University-Erbil has secured the top position, among both public and private universities across the Kurdistan Region and Iraq.
Prof. Dr. Amjad also highlighted that Cihan University-Erbil places a strong emphasis on scientific research not only among faculty and researchers but also at the undergraduate level. To date, over 20 Cihan university-Erbil students have successfully published their research in globally recognized journals. He emphasized the university’s commitment to research at all levels and highlighted its scientific laboratories for students and researchers.
In conclusion, the President of Cihan University-Erbil stated that the accomplishments of the conference were made possible through the collaborative efforts and support of Jadara University, particularly acknowledging the central roles played by the President, the Dean of the Faculty of Law, and its esteemed professors. “Such collaborative endeavors necessitate our heartfelt appreciation for their contributions” he said. Furthermore, he reiterated Cihan University-Erbil’s commitment to engage in contemporary issues and disseminate knowledge through scholarly conferences across diverse fields.
During another segment of the conference, Prof. Dr. Habes Mohammad Hatamleh, the President of Jadara University, Jordan, extended a warm welcome to the participants and delivered a speech. In his remarks, he conveyed his heartfelt appreciation to Cihan University-Erbil and Prof. Dr. Amjad Saber Al-Delawi for organizing the conference. Prof. Dr. Habes M. Hatamleh expressed the view that Cihan University-Erbil is regarded as a guiding light in the realm of academia due to its significant role and unparalleled collaboration, which greatly contributed to the enrichment and success of this distinctive conference.
“It brings me great satisfaction to address a significant topic during this conference, namely, righteous governance. This subject is fundamental to the sustainable development and well-being of our societies,” Prof. Dr. Habes Hatamleh remarked. With this goal in mind, he urged researchers to seize this opportunity for exchanging ideas, sharing perspectives, and gaining advantage from diverse experiences to collectively construct a future marked by justice, transparency, and accountability.
The President of Jadara University dedicated another part of his address to the critical dimensions of effective governance, delving into the realms of law, human rights, transparency, accountability, and their profound impact on societal and governmental development. He further illuminated that good governance stands as a focal point emphasized by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), serving as a vital pillar for economic development. It plays a crucial role in fortifying the rule of law, enhancing efficiency, and ensuring accountability within the public sector. Concluding his remarks, he extended well wishes for the success of the conference agenda.
During the opening ceremony, Assist. Prof. Dr. Mohammed Hussein Ahmed, Director General- Head of Apparatus of Supervision and Quality Assurance – Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, delivered an address on behalf of the Ministry. In his opening statement, acting on behalf of Dr. Aram Mohammed Qadir, the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, he expressed delight in hosting the fourth conference. This conference, dedicated to the vital domains of law and international relations, is a collaborative effort between two esteemed institutions: Cihan University-Erbil and Jadara University in Jordan. Dr. Hussein extended gratitude to the presidents of both universities for fostering a sense of fraternity, cooperation, and academic partnership between them.
In another part of his speech, the representative from the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research delved into historical perspectives, shedding light on the critical role of law in ensuring societal stability and structuring the lives of communities, the relationships among individuals concerning rights and responsibilities, tailored to the unique characteristics of each society. Furthermore, he highlighted the influential role played by the Ministry of Higher Education and Research in reforming curricula, particularly in the fields of law and political sciences across both public and private universities in the Kurdistan Region. This strategic initiative reflects a profound commitment to ensuring the quality of education to align educational programs with the demands of the labor market—a goal pursued through various conferences, workshops, and similar initiatives.
In the concluding segment of his address, Assist. Prof. Dr. Mohammed extended his best wishes for the success of the collaborative conference agenda. He expressed optimism that the decisions and recommendations arising from the conference would advance the public sphere, strengthen the governance structures, and stabilize the legal principles across diverse institutions.
Subsequently, Dr. Nawzad Yahya Bajger, Chairman of board of the trustees Cihan Universities, delivered an address. He expressed optimism that the practical application of the knowledge and information acquired through research would be prioritized. Additionally, he reiterated the commitment of board of the trustees Cihan Universities for organizing and conducting such conferences.
Following the opening ceremony, the conference featured presentations of 51 approved academic papers. A total of 60 academic papers were submitted by researchers, experts, and university educators across diverse domains within law and international relations. However, 51 papers were accepted while 9 were declined. Rejections were based on non-alignment with the conference themes or failure to meet the requirements. The approved papers will be showcased across four distinct panels.
Participation from Kurdistan Regional Government and Iraqi universities contributed 39 research papers and 12 research papers from leading universities globally, particularly from Jordan, Lebanon, Sultanate of Oman, Libya, Egypt, and Turkey. Additionally, the conference will feature insights from four keynote speakers.