Opening the Fourth International Scientific Conference on Architecture and Civil Engineering at Cihan University-Erbil
Under the auspices of Dr. Aram Mohammed Qadir, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and with the presence of a significant number of foreign, local and Iraqi researchers, Cihan University-Erbil in cooperation with Al-Furat Al-Awsat Technical University opened its fourth international scientific conference on architecture and civil engineering.
The conference took place on Wednesday, December 21, 2022, and it was attended by a representative of the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research of the Kurdistan Region and a significant number of academics, researchers, experts and the university lecturers. The conference began by a one-minute silence in recognition of the soul of Kurdistan Martyrs and some speeches afterwards.
Prof. Dr. Amjad Saber Al-Delawi, president of Cihan University-Erbil delivered a speech on the occasion, and welcomed the representative of the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research in the Kurdistan Region, Prof. Dr. Muthaffar Sadiq Al-Zuhairi, president of Al-Furat Al-Awsat Technical University, university presidents, researchers, lecturers, students and all attendees. He stated that Cihan University-Erbil has strong academic links with local universities in Kurdistan Region and in Iraq and with the world’s advanced universities which provides the opportunity to organize international joint conferences in different fields of study. Prof. Dr. Amjad clarified that this conference was a joint work between Cihan University-Erbil and Al-Furat Al-Awsat Technical University in the field of Architecture and Civil Engineering, and it was the result of an agreement signed between the two universities on March 10th, 2022. Based on the terms of the agreement, the universities develop their scientific cooperation, exchanging academic staffs, participating each other’s’ workshops and seminars, arranging joint researches and conferences among academic staffs of both universities.
In another part of his speech, the president of Cihan University-Erbil spoke on several points about the important aspects of the conference and said: “This conference, which is held in this situation, is of great importance to the following points:
The conference will discuss the latest developments in architecture and civil engineering, particularly in the field of environment, management, water resources, roads, structures and construction materials.
Another important aspect of the conference is that Iraq and the Kurdistan Region need to rebuild a strong infrastructure after the war. Therefore, this conference is in line with the beginning of the process of development and revival of the architectural aspects in Kurdistan Region and Iraq.
Third, the topics addressed at the conference are those major problems, particularly in the field of environment, irrigation and roads, that exist not only in today’s Iraq and Kurdistan, but also for many other countries. Practical solutions will also be offered in the conference.
Fourth, considering scientific aspects, the more important feature of this academic occasion is the partnership between the two universities; each of which has its own specification and expert academic staff. In addition, this conference has become an important station for gathering scientists from different countries around the world, discussing the latest engineering methods in the world.
Prof. Dr. Amjad Saber Al-Delawi devoted another part of his speech to presenting the different aspects of the conference, and said: “For this conference, 37 researches 10 subfields of engineering were submitted to the Conference Scientific Committee. Ultimately, 8 researches were rejected by the Scientific Evaluation Committee and 29 were approved. Among these researches, 8 were submitted from abroad universities; from Germany, Russia, Turkey, Malaysia and San Marino. The other 21 research articles were submitted and approved from Kurdistan Region and Iraq. Furthermore, 5 keynote speakers, 3 from Brazil, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, and two others from the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, set out the central theme of the conference.
At the end of his speech, the president of Cihan University-Erbil emphasized the agenda of Cihan University-Erbil, making its great effort to serve different fields of society.
In another part of the conference, Prof. Dr. Muthaffar Sadiq Al-Zuhairi, president of Al-Furat Al-Awsat Technical University, delivered a speech and acknowledged the importance of holding this joint conference which focuses on engineering and active participation in the reconstruction of the country’s infrastructure.
Later, Dr. Amanj Saeed, advisor to the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, gave a speech on behalf of Dr. Aram Mohammad Qadir, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research. At the beginning of his speech, Dr. Amanj thanked the organizers of the conference and said: ” I would appreciate the efforts of Cihan University-Erbil and Al-Furat Al-Awsat Technical University that gathered us here to discuss a number of issues related to architecture, civil engineering, environment and water resources. So I would like to thank you for organizing this conference in which local, Iraqi and international researchers participate and share their scientific researches”.
Regarding the importance of the conference, the representative of the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research stated: “The topics of the conference are dedicated to the contemporary and important issues that are related to the present and future of Iraq and the region Kurdistan, especially the researches in the field of architecture, civil engineering, environment, water resources and infrastructure of our country. We as the Academic Community of Kurdistan and as the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of the Kurdistan Region, make ourselves responsible for confronting the challenges facing humanity and our society in the 21st century. Hence, the Ministry of Higher Education places special importance on scientific research and development.” He added: “From here I want to announce with pleasure that at the beginning of next year, the Council of Scientific Research in Kurdistan Region led by the Minister of Higher Education and Science Research will announce research grants for 2023. These grants will be specific to the fields that will address the challenges facing different sectors in the governmental and private sectors. This is an attempt to bring our country’s researchers closer to society. We hope that more teachers, researchers and experts will come into their community and make the academy a tool for solving the problems of society and different sectors of our country. And it is important that our research work on issues that are now important in Kurdistan and in the world.”
Dr. Amanj Saeed devoted another part of his speech to the relationship between the environment and the field of architecture and national identity. “This conference can be a good beginning for working together in the field of civil engineering, architecture and the environment” he said, “engineering plays an important role in the field environment, especially in the area of environmental protection and environmental development, constructing buildings and infrastructure with less energy-needed tools. Therefore, we expect local and Iraqi researchers, in collaboration with international researchers, cooperate and guide us, and let us know how we can be environmentally friendly and protect the environment. and be aware of the changes that are going to serve our country’s environment. Regarding the field, the advisor to the Minister of Higher Education and Science Research said: “It is important in design to consider the cultural, national and national identity of our nation, to rely on local material to build and construct infrastructure, so that we really need you as the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research awaited the results and recommendation of this conference. Considering a strategic plan to manage water resources in Kurdistan, which is one of the issues of the conference, is appreciated,” Dr Amanj said “we all expect that in the next 10 years, the issue of water and water resources will be one of the most sensitive issues in terms of politics, the environment and the continuity of our cities, and I wish your efforts yield a positive outcome.”
At the opening ceremony of the conference, two short videos were shown about Cihan University-Erbil and Al-Furat Al-Awsat Technical University, and then the conference’s program began and some researches were presented.
At the two-day conference, 28 research will be presented on a variety of topics, and five keynote speakers will set out the central theme of the conference.
By organizing such conferences, Cihan University-Erbil reaffirmed the fact that it is one of the leading universities in the Kurdistan Region and can play an important role in the development and revitalization of the infrastructure of the Kurdistan Region and Iraq. Cihan University-Erbil also specifically assures that the results of its conferences will satisfy the needs of the community and strengthen its foundations to reconstruct the Kurdistan Region and Iraq and adapt to the changes of the era in the field of civil engineering, architecture, environment, water resources and roads.
