The Department of Soil Science and Water Resources, in collaboration with the Continuing Education Unit at the College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, University of Baghdad, recently hosted a vital educational workshop titled “International Day for the Prevention of Violent Extremism.”
The session was presented by Dr. Hadeel Amer Jabbar, Dr. Wildan Ali Abdul-Amir, and Dr. Mohammed Jafar Ali, with active participation from faculty members and graduate students.
Objectives and Key Themes
The workshop aimed to deconstruct the multifaceted nature of extremism—intellectual, religious, and social—while identifying the stages that lead to violent radicalization. Key areas of focus included:
Awareness & Prevention: Emphasizing the role of conscious social upbringing in building intellectually and psychologically balanced individuals.
The Iraqi Context: Addressing the specific social, economic, and security challenges faced by Iraq and their direct impact on the youth.
Institutional Responsibility: Discussing the critical role of families, educational institutions, and universities in fostering Intellectual Security and resisting extremist narratives.
Strategic Recommendations
To build a resilient and moderate society, the workshop concluded with several high-impact recommendations:
Curriculum Integration: Incorporating “Preventative Social Upbringing” and “Intellectual Security” into university curricula and training programs.
Psychological Support: Activating psychological and social counseling services within educational institutions to provide early intervention.
Cross-Sector Collaboration: Strengthening partnerships between universities, religious institutions, and the media to build sustainable community awareness.
Core Values: Promoting the principles of dialogue, moderation, and acceptance of the “Other.”
Contribution to Global Goals
This initiative directly supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 4: Quality Education), reflecting the university’s commitment to developing enlightened citizens and protecting society through knowledge.