In the media

Iraq’s higher education faces a corruption crisis, with credential fraud, poor infrastructure, and low enrollment (19%) far below the regional average. Private universities suffer from nepotism, bribery, and political influence. Nearly half (48%) of universities are in Baghdad, 10% in Karbala, while regions like Nineveh, Anbar, and Salah al-Din have just 1%, according to the National Development Plan 2018–2022. The report calls for investment in infrastructure, faculty, and research, and stricter private sector regulations.

A recent Institute for East European Studies study highlights the significant threat hijacked journals pose to scientific integrity. The research reveals that papers in these journals exhibit extremely high levels of plagiarism, with 66% of the sample containing plagiarized content. Most of these papers come from authors in developing countries, suggesting that weaker ethical norms and research practices contribute to the problem.

The proliferation of fake degrees in Iraq poses a serious threat to the country's educational system. Forged certificates undermine the value of genuine academic achievements, promoting fraud and deception, which erodes trust in state institutions. Since 2003, the issue has worsened, with the Iraqi parliament even passing laws that seem to protect forgers, such as the 2020 certificate equivalency law. To counteract this, the government must impose stricter penalties, uphold integrity in leadership, and reinforce educational oversight to ensure the credibility of genuine qualifications.

The Ministry of Education has launched a new curricula for both primary and secondary schools in Iraq. The aim is to raise awareness and understanding of the concepts of integrity, transparency, human rights and honesty. The new curricula was designed by the Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the UNDP. This innovative initiative is the first of its kind to be introduced in Iraq.