The College of Media at the University of Baghdad hosted an event by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research to honor top-performing universities in the Times World University Rankings for 2024.
Iraq was ranked 37th out of 108 countries worldwide in the 2024 Times ranking, with 13 Iraqi universities achieving competitive results in comparison to 1904 universities globally.
During an official ceremony, Minister of Education Dr. Na’im Al-Aboudi honored the high-performing universities in this global ranking, recognizing the efforts made by academics, researchers, and administrators in these leading universities, which have contributed to enhancing Iraq’s position in the global scene of higher education and scientific research.
The progress and leadership of Iraqi universities in this ranking reflect continuous efforts and significant investment in the fields of education and scientific research. By achieving this advanced status, Iraq demonstrates to the world its vast potential and capabilities for developing and improving the quality of higher education and scientific research within the country.
Dr. Haider Al-Aboudi, the spokesperson for the ministry, stated before the celebration, “This achievement represents a significant turning point in the history of higher education in Iraq and indicates the substantial efforts being made to elevate the quality of education and scientific research in the country.”
He added, “The progress of Iraqi universities in the Times ranking reflects the ministry’s strategic vision to enhance the quality of higher education and scientific research in Iraq,” emphasizing, “We are committed to providing full support to academic institutions and researchers to ensure the continuation of this progress and the achievement of more successes in the future.”
In this year’s ranking, Iraqi universities saw an increase in their representation compared to the previous year. Thirteen universities achieved positive rankings on the global competition scale, with the University of Technology ranking (801-1000), followed by the University of Al-Nahrain (1201-1500), the University of Al-Qadisiyah (1201-1500), the University of Babylon (1201-1500), and the University of Diyala (1201-1500). Subsequently, the University of Anbar (1501+), the University of Baghdad (1501+), the University of Basra (1501+), the University of Karbala (1501+), the University of Kufa (1501+), the Central Technical University (1501+), the University of Mosul (1501+), and the Mustansiriya University (1501+).
The Times World University Rankings rely on key criteria to evaluate and measure performance in five areas: Teaching (Learning Environment) 29.5%, Research Environment 29%, Research Quality 30%, International Outlook 7.5%, and Industry Income 4%.