The President of the University of Basrah, Dr. Aqeel Fadhil Al-Dahan, received the Consul General of the Republic of Türkiye in Basrah, Omut Lutfi Ozturk, and his associate, Arqam Shahin, in the presence of the University Assistant President for Administrative Affairs, Dr. Ayman Saleh Nima, and a number of senior university officials. The meeting focused on strengthening academic and cultural cooperation between the two sides.

The Turkish Consul emphasized the importance of expanding cooperation between the University of Basrah and Turkish universities in educational, scientific, and cultural fields, particularly agriculture, expressing the Consulate’s readiness to support joint initiatives. He also proposed establishing a Turkish Language Department at the University, with specialized staff and logistical support provided by the Consulate.

Dr. Al-Dahan welcomed the proposals and stressed the importance of exchanging expertise and strengthening academic relations between the two countries. He also proposed allocating a site for the proposed department within the new university complex in Abu Al-Khaseeb, subject to obtaining the required official approvals.

The University President also called for encouraging Turkish students to study at Iraqi universities through the “Study in Iraq” program, noting that the University’s Language Center is ready to provide intensive Arabic language courses to help international students integrate smoothly into the university environment.

The meeting also discussed the possibility of launching specialized Turkish language courses through the Live Languages Center as an initial step toward developing broader foreign-language programs, alongside a number of joint educational and cultural initiatives. The meeting concluded with official invitations to participate in upcoming events, further strengthening academic and cultural ties between the two sides.