During a meeting with the Councils of Kirkuk and Northern Technical Universities, His Excellency, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Dr. Nabeel Kadim Abid Al-Sahib renewed calling on the independency of the universities, developing of their academic performance and activating of partnerships with international universities and organizations. Dr. Abid Al-Sahib said that the independency of university institutions guarantees an effective scientific aspect and improves their performance in carrying out their scientific tasks according to their regulations and contexts. His Excellency added that the universities are facing challenges that are not easy and rapid changes, which require ensuring their independency as much as possible in order to achieve community service and work with high flexibility to perform their functions and requirements. Dr. Abid Al-Sahib urged developing scientific and cultural relations and benefiting from them in strengthening ties between Iraqi universities’ institutions and their international counterparts. His Excellency reviewed the observations and opinions of the President of Kirkuk University and the deans on strengthening the academic environment and developing the scientific research incubator in a way that contributes in achieving sustainable development. It is worth mentioning that the meeting was attended by a ministerial delegation.