The graduation project for a bachelor's degree is a fundamental requirement for obtaining this degree. It marks the beginning of the graduate's journey in rigorous academic research by building and developing their abilities to contribute to solving problems within their field of specialization. It also empowers them to innovate and formulate new visions that can generate modern ideas and innovations with a tangible impact on the targeted scientific field.
Most countries worldwide prioritize scientific research at the graduation level, in addition to other research levels, due to its prominent role in achieving scientific leadership and financial and economic growth and progress. Billions of dollars are allocated to research centers in universities in developed countries and regional and neighboring countries to foster excellence in specific fields. This excellence is often achieved through research that includes significant inventions and innovations across various disciplines, contributing significantly to giving these countries a leading advantage in the areas where the research was conducted. Numerous examples exist of this phenomenon.
In Iraq, particularly in the last two decades, interest in this matter has significantly declined. Some research is now conducted in offices that advertise their work on social media, openly and publicly, even to the relevant authorities. This has extended to theses and dissertations, despite the scientific capabilities of many individuals in this field. Furthermore, the neglect of numerous completed research projects that directly impact the lives of Iraqi citizens in various sectors, including the environment, water, electricity, health, and even finance and economics, has created a clear scientific gap between Iraq and the rest of the world. It has also diminished the contribution of universities in addressing the current situation. Here, I would like to mention one of the innovative professors at the University of Karbala, who, a decade ago, identified losses exceeding half of the electricity produced and proposed appropriate solutions to mitigate them. Despite the importance of this topic, as it directly affects the lives of Iraqi citizens, it has been completely neglected, except for some media mentions.
Increasing interest in scientific research in Iraq and granting it the necessary allocations by the state, as is the case with the rest of the world, will certainly create a broad level of creativity emanating from Iraqi universities and their research centers, with the starting point being graduation research at the bachelor’s level, while addressing the violations that have emptied that research of its desired scientific level.