Under the patronage of the President of University of Baghdad, Professor Dr. Raghd Al‑Hashemi, and within the framework of the academic partnership between the College of Science for Women and the College of Excellence, the activities of the fourth day of Entrepreneurship Week commenced with the convening of an expanded dialogue session on entrepreneurship. The session hosted a distinguished group of decision-makers and representatives of both the executive and legislative authorities.
The session was attended by the Advisor to the Prime Minister, Dr. Hussein Flamers; Member of Parliament Maha Mahmoud Al‑Alwani; the Assistant President of Al‑Farabi University and Deputy Head of the Iraqi Programmers Syndicate, Dr. Mazin Samir Al‑Hakim; Dr. Murtadha Al‑Zaidi, a member of the Secretariat of the Supreme Council for Youth at the Prime Minister’s Office; and Mr. Ihab Kamel Kazem, Head of the Digital Team in Baghdad at the Prime Minister’s Office.
The session was held in the hall of the College of Excellence and was attended by the Dean of the College of Science for Women, Professor Dr. Samira Naji Kazem; the Dean of the College of Excellence, Dr. Ali Hussein; and the Assistant Dean for Scientific and Student Affairs at the College of Science for Women, Dr. Nadia Mohammed Jawad, in addition to a number of faculty members, staff, and students from both colleges.
The session opened with a welcome to the distinguished guests, emphasizing that this event is organized in light of the growing governmental interest in supporting entrepreneurial projects and directing university students’ thinking toward an entrepreneurial culture by linking academic knowledge with practical realities and building effective channels of communication between universities, state institutions, and the private sector.
During the session, Dr. Hussein Flamers highlighted the importance of creative thinking among youth, stressing that decision-making ability is one of the most prominent factors for initiation and success in entrepreneurship. He noted that young people represent a renewable source of energy and that supporting them through the entrepreneurship project launched by the Prime Minister’s Office constitutes a cornerstone for building their future. He also urged students to equip themselves with knowledge and skills in innovation and business to seize available opportunities and establish their own ventures.
For her part, MP Maha Mahmoud Al-Alwani explained the role of the legislative authority in preparing a supportive environment for innovation and entrepreneurial projects, pointing to ongoing efforts to enact legislation related to e-governance and the ethics of artificial intelligence, thereby contributing to the regulation of the business environment and the enhancement of digital transformation.
Dr. Mazin Samir Al-Hakim underscored the importance for aspiring entrepreneurs to master essential skills, including developing English language proficiency, learning the fundamentals of programming, and effectively employing artificial intelligence tools in idea generation and analysis and in selecting what best suits the nature of a given project—while emphasizing that such tools should not replace the human role in decision-making. He also stressed the necessity of keeping pace with rapid developments in information technology and entrepreneurship.
Dr. Murtadha Al-Zaidi reviewed the efforts of the Supreme Council for Youth in supporting young talents through providing funding for entrepreneurial projects, qualification and training programs, and launching competitions under the title Eyes of Youth Initiative, aimed at stimulating creativity and honoring winning projects.
Mr. Ihab Kamel Kazem outlined mechanisms for enhancing digital transformation in entrepreneurial projects, identifying key strengths that should be incorporated into project plans to ensure success. He emphasized the importance of innovation and the provision of new solutions that meet consumer needs and address problems efficiently and at reasonable cost.
The session featured constructive interventions and discussions between students and guests, who expressed their appreciation for the efforts of the Presidency of the University of Baghdad and the two colleges in organizing such high-quality events that enhance entrepreneurial awareness among youth and develop their capacities, enabling them to create job opportunities and serve society.
At the conclusion of the session, the Dean of the College of Science for Women, Professor Dr. Samira Naji Kazem, and the Dean of the College of Excellence, Dr. Ali Hussein, honored the distinguished guests by presenting commemorative shields and certificates of appreciation in recognition of their participation and their role in enriching the session with their expertise and insights, which contributed to its success and to achieving meaningful benefits for the students.
