Al-Karkh University of Science held a dialogue seminar entitled “The Academic Role in Combating Rumors and its Impact on Addressing Current Challenges,” under the auspices of the Prime Minister’s Office/National Standing Committee for Community Awareness and Guidance, and under the supervision and in the presence of the President of Al-Karkh University of Science, Professor Dr. Jumaa Salman Jiyad.

The seminar was attended by a number of professors, researchers, and students, as well as those interested in academic and community affairs. It aimed to highlight the importance of the role played by educational institutions in confronting the phenomenon of rumors and addressing their negative effects on society, especially in light of current challenges that require advanced scientific and cultural awareness.

The seminar included three main lectures. Dr. Haider Al-Saadi, Advisor to the Prime Minister and Head of the National Standing Committee for Community Awareness and Guidance, presented on mechanisms for confronting rumors and the role of responsible media discourse in limiting their spread, emphasizing the importance of cooperation between governmental and academic institutions to enhance community awareness. Dr. Musa Al-Mousawi, Coordinator of the National Standing Committee for Community Awareness and Guidance and Head of Curricula at the Research and Development Department of the Ministry of Higher Education, delivered a lecture focusing on the role of school curricula in instilling critical thinking skills in students, thus contributing to building a conscious generation capable of distinguishing between accurate and misleading information.

The symposium also featured a lecture by Colonel Mohammed Rashid Ibrahim from the Community Policing Directorate, who addressed the role of security agencies in combating rumors, particularly through strengthening communication with the community and disseminating security awareness. He emphasized the importance of cooperation between academic and security institutions to mitigate the phenomenon of media misinformation and its impact on social stability.

In his remarks during the symposium, University President Professor Dr. Juma Salman Jiyad stressed the importance of strengthening the academic role in fostering community awareness, noting that universities represent the first line of defense against rumors through their adoption of rigorous scientific research and the promotion of a culture of information verification.

The university president added that Al-Karkh University of Science is committed to organizing scientific events that contribute to building a conscious and intellectually resilient society, capable of confronting various media and intellectual challenges.

The seminar included interventions and open discussions between attendees and speakers, during which opinions and ideas were exchanged on the best ways to enhance the role of universities in disseminating informed culture and countering media disinformation campaigns.

At the conclusion of the seminar, participants emphasized the importance of continuing to hold such scientific events, which contribute to raising societal awareness and solidify the role of academic institutions in serving society and confronting intellectual and media challenges.

Al-Karkh University of Science

Media and Government Communication Department