Iraq

Purpose: The objective of this study is to develop a comprehensive framework for identifying the challenges facing human resource management (HRM) in the education system of Iraq. By leveraging insights from key stakeholders, the study aims to provide detailed understanding and solutions to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of HRM practices in Iraqi educational institutions. Methodology: This qualitative study utilized a purposive sampling method to select 12 experts from the Iraqi education sector, focusing on the provinces of Maysan, Baghdad, and Dhi Qar. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, which were then transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis facilitated by NVivo software. The analysis aimed to identify key themes related to HRM challenges, ensuring the validity of findings through researcher self-review and verification control. Findings: The study identified several significant challenges affecting HRM in Iraq's education system. Financial constraints, such as low salaries for educational staff and inadequate funding for schools, were pervasive. Infrastructural deficiencies, including old and poorly maintained school buildings, contributed to an unconducive learning environment. There was also a lack of technological integration, with schools insufficiently equipped and teachers untrained in using modern educational tools. Additional issues included inadequate parental and governmental support, a curriculum misaligned with societal and market needs, teacher demotivation, outdated assessment methods, and political instability influencing educational policies. Conclusion: Effective HRM practices, such as performance-based budgeting, financial decentralization, technological integration, and comprehensive teacher training programs, are essential for enhancing educator performance and improving educational quality.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to investigate the factors influencing the teaching of technical and practical courses in the College of Art in Iraq. Methodology: This applied-developmental study employed a survey-cross-sectional design. The statistical population consisted of art teachers in technical and vocational programs in Iraq, with a sample size of 188 teachers selected through cluster-random sampling. Data collection was conducted using a questionnaire validated for face and construct validity, and reliability was confirmed with Cronbach's alpha coefficients exceeding 0.7. Data analysis was performed using SPSS and Smart PLS software to examine the relationships between variables. Findings: The analysis revealed that strategic teaching planning significantly impacts educational, social, and individual outcomes. The contexts of technical and practical education and the teaching methods used in these courses significantly influence strategic teaching planning. Additionally, educational, human, and organizational factors were found to have a notable impact on the teaching of technical and practical courses. However, the traditional education system negatively affected strategic teaching planning. These findings align with previous research highlighting the importance of strategic planning, adaptive teaching methods, and the integration of modern technologies in improving educational outcomes. Conclusion: Strategic teaching planning is crucial for enhancing educational, social, and individual outcomes in technical and practical courses. Educational contexts, teaching methods, and various influencing factors must be considered to develop effective strategic plans. The traditional education system's rigidity poses challenges to effective teaching planning, suggesting a need for more flexible and innovative approaches. These insights provide valuable recommendations for educators and policymakers to improve the quality of technical and practical education in the arts.

Considering that the greatest threat to Iran in the past 400 years has emerged from the geography of Iraq (from the time of the Ottoman rule and onwards), it must be noted that Iraq is one of Iran's most important neighbors. Therefore, continuous examination of the shaping factors in Iran-Iraq relations is crucial. Although the history of Iran-Iraq relations spans over a century, this article seeks to explore, utilizing a historical-comparative method and an analytical approach, the shaping factors of Iran-Iraq relations from 2003 to 2022. The argument presented in this article suggests that while Iran managed to expand its regional influence in the aftermath of the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime, and replaced the pattern of hostility and tension of the Ba'athist era with a pattern of interaction and cooperation, the element of cooperation and interaction in Iran-Iraq relations is gradually fading due to changes and developments at domestic, regional and international levels.

Following the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003 and the establishment of governments based on the people's votes, due to the long-standing religious and cultural ties between the peoples of Iran and Iraq, the ground for Iran's activism in the geopolitics of this country was provided. Iran's regional policy, while observing the principles of good neighborliness and non-interference, has taken a special and strategic view of these developments and has acted in an effort to secure national interests. In this regard, three patterns regarding Iran's activism in Iraq's geopolitics are proposed, which include the pattern of passive activism or non-participation, interactive activism, and activism based on soft power and economic links. Examining these three patterns and the advantages and disadvantages associated with each one, and analysis regarding which pattern will be more likely to provide Iran's national interests are the main topics of this article. Based on the results of this research, Iran can have a unique position in Iraq's geopolitics due to its relative advantages compared to other actors. Based on this, an effective regional policy to deepen the relations between Iran and Iraq, on the one hand, is focused on social relations that are rooted in culture, religion, language and common race, and on the other hand, it is focused on deepening economic relations and establishing mutual dependence.