The College of Mass Communication at the University of Baghdad recently hosted the defense of the master’s thesis titled “The Public Perception of Digital Government Services in Iraq: A Field Study on the e-Government Portal ‘Aur’ Among the Iraqi Public,” submitted by Ms. Ban Fawzi Hamid from the Department of Public Relations.
The discussion committee consisted of Prof. Dr. Nahid Fadel Zidan as Chair, Assistant Prof. Dr. Zeina Abdulkhaleq as Supervisor, with membership including Assistant Prof. Dr. Ria Qahtan, and Assistant Prof. Dr. Arak Ghanem Mohammed as an external member.
The study aimed to identify the overall image of the Aur portal as perceived by the public in Baghdad, determine the types of government services that citizens prefer to use, and examine the portal’s responsiveness to the public’s inquiries and interactions.
The researcher concluded several key findings: the statement “The portal helps me save time in obtaining digital government services” ranked highest in shaping the overall perception of the Aur portal among Baghdad’s public. Regarding service topics, “Personal Affairs and Civil Status” was the most sought-after category of government services. In terms of interaction, the majority of inquiries were responded to promptly, with the “Fast” response category being predominant.
Moreover, the results highlighted that “The Aur portal contributes to enhancing digital transformation in delivering government services in Iraq” and that “Clearly documenting the steps of digital government services helps the public understand the required procedures.”
This study provides valuable insights for policymakers, media professionals, and researchers on improving the usability, responsiveness, and public image of digital government services in Iraq, contributing to a more effective and citizen-friendly e-government system.
