In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, and peace and blessings be upon our prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his blessed household.
Ladies and Gentlemen, members of the teaching staff,
Our dear students,
Respected staff at the University of Kerbala,
Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi waBarakatuh,
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
«وَقُلِ اعْمَلُوا فَسَيَرَى اللَّهُ عَمَلَكُمْ وَرَسُولُهُ وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَسَتُرَدُّونَ إِلَى عَالِمِ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ فَيُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ»
صدق الله العلي العظيم
(التوبة:105)
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
“And say: Work(righteousness): soon will Allah observe your work, and His messenger, and the believers: soon will ye be brought back to the Knower of what is hidden and what is open: then will He show you the truth of all that ye did” (Al-Tawbah:105)
I am very proud to be the next president of the University of Kerbala and I see this day as the beginning of a new journey. As we embark on this journey together, I would first like to express my great pleasure to address the faculty, staff, students and all members of the university. I, along with the esteemed members of the university council, am grateful for the trust, honor, and privilege of becoming the seventh president of the University of Kerbala.
Dear University of Kerbala community, I look forward to touring the campus—today and in the upcoming months—and getting to know each and every one of you. It may take some time to tour the campus, but it is worth my attention. Rest assured that I will be making my tours and I want to hear about you, your stories, and how significant Kerbala University is to each one of you.
I would like to thank Dr. Basim Al-Saedi for his leadership over the past few years.
To the students, faculty, staff, administrators, alumni, and friends of the University, from this point forward, I will apply all my skills and abilities to build on our rich history as the first public university in Kerbala Province.
It is natural to ask any new leader:
• What do you have to offer us to make a difference?
• How will you advance the mission of the university?
• What is your vision?
I’d like to share a little with you today. What I can promise is that I will work with this team every day to improve both the school and our dear province. I pledge to put in endless effort to further the goals of the University of Kerbala and make sure that our students have every chance to be successful.
A Brief Overview of My Career:
• I graduated from Kerbala High School for Boys.
• I began my professional career at Al-Mustansiriya University, where I studied English for four years. I postponed my studies for a year in the wake of the Sha’baniaUprising in 1991 to avoid political persecution.
• I earned my Master’s degree in English literature from the same university.
• I briefly worked as an instructor of English in the United Arab Emirates before returning to Iraq to pursue a Ph.D. in contemporary literary criticism from the University of Baghdad.
• I was an adjunct professor at Seton Hall University in New Jersey in the United States.
• I was Iraq’s Cultural Attaché to Canada for a three-year tenure.
• Upon returning to Iraq, I became the head of the Department of English and later the Dean of the College of Education for Humanities.
• Today, I am honored to serve as the seventh president of the University of Kerbala, a role I take with great pride.
The goal of education is to make the world and society better than when we found it, as well as to improve the lives of others. But, as everyone knows, nobody accomplishes anything on their own. For this reason, I am excited to collaborate with the University Board of Directors and the friends of the University to strategically grow public higher education at the University of Kerbala for the benefit of all. As we continue to build on the quality of our academic programs, exceptional professors, students, alumni, and community, I see a very bright future for the University of Kerbala.
However, to get there, we must all work together as a team, giving it all to strengthen our bond.
My advice to every student is:
First and foremost, aim high, put in a lot of effort, and rule your life. Consider your goals for the next three or four years. Set objectives and make steady progress toward them. Our instructors and staff will be pleased to assist you. If your concerns are about finding employment after college, focus on your studies and take advantage of as many internships as you can. I promise that graduates with a strong track record in the classroom and a wealth of professional experience are in high demand. Don’t use anything—your history, your neighborhood, your family, or the opinions of others—as a justification for not putting in your best effort today. Your destiny is under your control. Your future is determined by the actions you do now.
Second, cherish every opportunity to learn. Spending four years in college is the best time to delve into your field of study and expand your general knowledge. Knowing your field well in college lays a solid foundation for your future career or further education. Thirty years ago, when I was a college student, resources were scarce. I bought every English book I could find and read it from cover to cover. It paid off. The solid foundation in English I built got me through my master’s program and helped me excel in my doctoral studies and teaching career. On the other hand, don’t dismiss courses outside your field of study as unimportant. In Steve Jobs’s 2005 commencement address at Stanford University, he discussed learning many beautiful fonts in a calligraphy class he took in college. This may not have seemed important at the time; however, ten years later, it came back to him when he was designing the first Mac computer. He used this knowledge when creating fonts for the first Mac. You never know what might come in handy later in life. Take every opportunity to learn as much as you can.
Not to mention, have a balanced life and be happy. Remember that success encompasses more than just achieving goals in school. A strong immune system, loving family, and friends’ support are all necessary for success. Show gratitude and appreciation for each and every chance you get, every bit of support you receive, and each and every one of your precious days. Tell your family about your time at university and try your hardest to show them how much you love and appreciate them. Observe your peers and friends, and lend a hand if you can. A strong work ethic today will pay off in the classroom. Having compassion, love, and gratitude in your life now will make you happier in the future.
In order to properly assess what is best for you and your future, you must first know yourself. This includes identifying your academic abilities, career aspirations, and preferred study environment.
An important part of my vision includes:
Achieving leadership in international publishing in various fields of humanities and social sciences,
• Serving the scientific research process, and contributing to enriching knowledge, by publishing research and studies related to humanities and social fields and areas at home and abroad.
• Being committed to making every effort to serve and support the college and enhance its reputation and international standing to be a leader in the humanities.
My vision for the University of Kerbala is to build on excellence together as a community of learners:
• Attracting foreign students to study at our university is a future asset that contributes to raising the ranking of our prestigious university.
• Attracting foreign professors to teach and benefit from their research experiences.
• Continuing to build academic excellence.
• Creating supportive and attractive curricular and curricular opportunities for the generation of learners.
• Encouraging and supporting the diversity of learners enrolled at the University of Kerbala
I also look forward to:
• Establishing new partnerships in our local and global communities,
• Developing new, distinctive, and specialized programs
• Finally, enhancing the value of the good educational experience provided by faculty, staff, and administrators at the University of Kerbala
Prof. Sabah Wajid Ali (Ph.D.)
President of the University of Kerbala
Aug./15/2024
