Preparing the Strategic Plan
2021-2026
for the Department of Civil Engineering
Planning Preparation Phase
(Strategic Plan Formulating Triggers)
Preparations
Strategic Plan Formulating Committee
Civil Engineering Department
November 2020 Rabi` al-Awwal 1442
1- Introduction:
Preparing the strategic plan for educational institutions and implementing it according to a specific timetable and naming the parties responsible for implementing each of its paragraphs are matters that these institutions must work on if they want to continue developing and advancing to keep pace with scientific progress. The process of analyzing the reality of the educational institution with all its activities, events, educational, research, administrative and other operations is the first step to determine the current status of the institution and chart its future path by identifying errors in performance and weaknesses, and then preparing plans to improve its performance and start implementing them as a second step, in addition to strengthening the strengths that distinguish it and its performance and the opportunities available to it.
For many years, the Department of Civil Engineering has been developing plans and action scenarios to improve academic performance and advance the outcomes of the educational process. After the launch of the national standards for institutional accreditation by the Scientific Supervision and Evaluation Authority at the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in 2018, the Department of Civil Engineering prepared self-assessment reports to identify strengths and weaknesses and develop improvement plans that, through their implementation within specific time periods, will hopefully achieve all the requirements of the standards included in the plan, its elements and indicators.
It is worth noting that the second phase of preparing the strategic plan that we are reviewing (strategic plan incentives), which was included in the guidance manual issued by the Scientific Supervision and Evaluation Authority under their book No. C/D/D 731 on 7/2/2020, was carried out in consultation with a number of experts in the field of work and specialists in strategic planning who played an active role in maturing the ideas that pour into the crucible of the department’s progress to achieve the department’s goals emanating from and achieving its mission
Descriptive data about the department:
Department name: Civil Engineering Dept.
Name of the institution to which it belongs: University of Technology – Iraq
Year of establishment: 1960
Type: Public University
Study orientations: Applied scientific engineering
Department branches and specializations: Structural engineering, construction engineering and project management, road and bridge engineering, health and environmental engineering, water engineering and hydraulic structures and geomatics engineering in addition to two research units: the Remote Sensing Research Unit and the Water Desalination Research Unit.
Study costs: Free for morning studies, and there are evening and parallel studies for different tuition fees according to the specialization.
Academic degrees awarded: Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering in the specializations mentioned above, Master of Science in Civil Engineering specializations, and Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering specializations
Number of members of the Department Council: (11) includes the heads of branches, the rapporteur, scientific and administrative assistants, and the head of the department
Geographical location: Iraq – Baghdad – Al-Wahda neighborhood (Tal Muhammad) – Al-Sina’a Street
The university’s website and official email: http://www.uotechnology.edu.iq
up.o@uotechnology.edu.iq
2- About the Civil Engineering Department
The Department of Civil Engineering was established at the University of Technology in 1960 when the University of Technology was called the Higher Industrial Institute. The name of the department was Building and Construction Engineering. The study period was five years after high school, after which the graduate was awarded a Bachelor’s degree in Building and Applied Construction Engineering.
In 1967, the Higher Industrial Institute was replaced by the College of Industrial Engineering and later changed to the College of Engineering Technology affiliated with the University of Baghdad. The College of Engineering Technology was disassociated from it as of 4/1/1975. Then, the decision to establish the University of Technology was issued on 4/1/1975. The name of the Department of Engineering and Construction remained and the study period became four years.
Since the establishment of the department until now, it has had and still has a high distinction that distinguishes it from the rest of the Iraqi engineering colleges, as it is a specialized applied scientific engineering department that works to support the labor market and government departments with all civil engineering specializations at the undergraduate and graduate levels. It will continue to work and move in this direction until reaching the highest levels of scientific developments.
3- About the Department’s Branches:
The Civil Engineering Department includes six specialized engineering branches in the field of civil engineering. The following is an overview of the directions of each specialized branch.
1- Structural Engineering Branch
The Structural Engineering Branch was established in the academic year 1998-1999. The study in this branch aims to graduate engineers in the field of construction and building engineering and civil engineering works, who have the ability to complete structural designs and implement engineering projects in the field of work and join postgraduate studies and raise the level of study in the precise fields thereof.
Names of the heads of the branch since its establishment:
1. Prof. Dr. Qais Fouad Sarsam
2. Asst. Prof. Dr. Mai Jassim Hamoudi
3. Prof. Dr. Tariq Al-Attar
4. Asst. Prof. Dr. Ayad Kazem Saihoud
5. Asst. Prof. Dr. Wael Shawqi Abdul Sahib
Branch objectives
The branch aims to grant a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering – construction engineering after completing the requirements of four academic years in addition to completing the requirements of engineering training for a period of 12 weeks.
Research directions:
1- Prestressed and high-strength concrete designs.
2- Structural analysis and design of concrete and steel structures.
3- Precast buildings.
2- Department of Construction Engineering and Construction Project Management
Year of establishment: 1998-1999
Names of the heads of the department
Assistant Professor Dr. Tariq Mikhail Daoud Bahnam Haddad 1997-2006.
Assistant Professor Dr. Qais Jawad Freih from 2006 to 2014
Assistant Professor Dr. Walid Abdul Razzaq since 2014
Professor Dr. Maan Salman Hassan
Objectives of the department
The department aims to grant a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering – engineering for construction and construction project management after completing the requirements of four academic years in addition to completing the requirements of engineering training for a period of 12 weeks.
The department also aims to grant a master’s degree and a doctorate in the specializations of building materials and construction project management to secure the need of the construction sector and related ministries for competent engineering cadres in this field.
The curricula of the first and second years are dedicated to basic sciences in the field of civil engineering in addition to some specialized topics. In the third and fourth years, the curricula focus on specialized topics in the field of building materials and construction project management to achieve the following basic objectives:
Qualifying students to have theoretical experience in the field of building engineering and construction engineering sciences.
Qualifying students to have practical experience to develop their engineering knowledge.
Supplying the community with graduates in the field of materials engineering and construction project management.
Qualifying some graduates for postgraduate studies in this important specialty.
Conducting research in the field of materials engineering and project management.
Cooperating with state institutions to provide consulting services in the field of specialization for the branch.
Cooperating with state institutions to provide consulting services in the field of specialization for the branch.
Research trends for the branch
The research trends for the branch are summarized as follows:
Developing building materials and improving their properties
Research in the field of quality control work and material tests
Providing studies and research related to Iraqi specifications
Studies on modern methods in managing construction projects
The role of the construction sector in preserving the environment
Evaluation and rehabilitation of facilities
3- Roads and Bridges Engineering Branch
Year of establishment 1998-1999
Names of the branch heads since establishment:
Prof. Dr. Namir Khorshid Saeed 1998-2003.
Prof. Dr. Muhammad Majeed Abdul Razzaq 2003-2006.
Prof. Dr. Muhammad Youssef Fattah 2006 to 2014
Assistant Professor Dr. Hassan Hamoudi Johnny 2014
Prof. Dr. Muhammad Youssef Fattah and so far
Branch objectives:
The Road and Bridge Engineering Branch, as a specialized branch of the Civil Engineering Department, is considered a scientific, educational and applied base that aims to provide scientific and engineering cadres in the specializations of road and transportation engineering, bridge engineering and geotechnical engineering and to meet the requirements of achieving reconstruction and urban, economic and social development of the country and achieving scientific progress in the field of road and bridge engineering. The branch contributes effectively to supporting the scientific movement with scientific and applied research in addition to what it provides in terms of engineering consultations. The branch aims to provide qualified cadres to work in engineering projects and academically qualified to teach in universities and institutes.
The branch works to keep pace with scientific and technological development by following up on international scientific publications and effective participation in scientific conferences and continuous development of curricula in a way that supports the scientific movement in Iraq
The branch aims to grant a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering – road and bridge engineering after completing the requirements of four academic years in addition to completing the requirements of engineering training for a period of 12 weeks.
Research Trends
The branch includes a number of lecturers who have long experience in the field of scientific and applied research within the specializations of geotechnical engineering, road and transportation engineering, geophysics, surveying and structural engineering.
The research schools included in the branch in the field of soil stabilization and improvement, as well as foundation engineering and its applications, are considered to be schools that are pointed out in Iraq. The branch also provides many consulting works for projects implemented in various governorates and contributes to employing academic expertise in serving the community.
4- Sanitary and Environmental Engineering Branch:
Year of establishment: 1998-1999
Names of branch heads since establishment:
Prof. Dr. Adnan Abbas Al-Samawi 1998-2010.
Assistant Professor Dr. Mahmoud Rashid Mahmoud 2010 .-2.012
Assistant Professor Dr. Fares Hamoudi Muhammad 2012-2016
Assistant Professor Dr. Hussein Abbas Aziz 2016-2020
Assistant Professor Dr. Fares Hamoudi Muhammad 2020 and until now.
Branch objectives:
The study in the branch aims to graduate engineering cadres specialized in aspects of civil engineering in general with a focus on dealing with problems related to the environment and health in the following aspects:
Preparing engineering designs and engineering supervision of civil and construction works and health services.
Protecting the environment by controlling water, air and soil pollution.
Project management for water technology and treatment, municipal and industrial wastewater.
Supervision, design, implementation and follow-up of water and wastewater transmission network projects.
Industrial waste management.
Solid waste management.
The branch aims to grant a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering – environmental and health engineering after completing the requirements of four years of study in addition to completing the requirements of engineering training for a period of 12 weeks.
In addition to graduating cadres with higher degrees (higher diploma, master’s and doctorate) specialized in the philosophy of pure engineering for health and environmental engineering.
5- Water Engineering and Hydraulic Structures Branch
Year of establishment of the branch: 2002-2003
Names of the branch heads since establishment:
Dr. Karim Al-Jumaili
Dr. Muhannad Al-Qazwini
Dr. Hassan Ali Omran
Dr. Mahmoud Saleh
Prof. Dr. Jaafar Sadiq Mutawaq
Branch objectives:
Graduation of qualified cadres to work in the following fields:
Management of water facilities for agricultural, industrial and municipal irrigation purposes.
Irrigation and drainage projects.
Management and maintenance of water reservoirs.
Preparation of designs for dams and various water facilities.
Supervision of the implementation and operation of various water facilities.
Research trends
Water resources in general and the following fields:
Optimal operation of dams and water facilities.
Water basin management.
Monitoring and measuring sediments in rivers and water reservoirs and modern methods and methods of treating and discharging these sediments.
Study of groundwater and its movement and investment of groundwater reservoirs.
Study of different types of surface and groundwater and modern methods of water treatment.
The branch aims to award a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering – Water Engineering and Hydraulic Structures after completing the requirements of four academic years in addition to completing the requirements of engineering training for a period of 12 weeks.
6- Geomatics Engineering Branch:
About the Branch:
The Geomatics Engineering Branch (Department of Building and Construction Engineering) / University of Technology was established in 2012 pursuant to the letter of the Ministry of Higher Education No. (TM 3/4602) on (24/7/2012).
The Geomatics Engineering Branch in the Civil Engineering Department is distinguished by being the first branch in this specialization in all Iraqi universities, and thus we are pioneers in this specialization, which places an additional responsibility on the teaching staff to innovate and advance in this field by keeping pace with scientific and technological developments in all fields that fall into this specialization, as the term surveying no longer accurately covers all the tasks that deal with this profession.
The academic year (2012-2013) is the first academic year for the Geomatics Engineering Branch for undergraduate studies in addition to continuing postgraduate studies to grant a master’s degree in the specialization of Geomatics Engineering. Three main laboratories are available in the branch: the surveying laboratory, the remote sensing and geographic information systems laboratory, and the photogrammetry laboratory.
Branch Heads
Assistant Professor Dr. Abbas Zidane
Prof. Dr. Abdul Razzaq Taresh Zoboon since 2017 until now
Acquired Skills:
The skills that the student acquires during his studies are the following:
Ø Using site survey instruments and tools such as tape, indicators, theodolite, leveling device, total station, GPS devices and modern surveying programs.
Ø Using modern surveying devices and programs in surveying work and projecting engineering projects and creating maps and plans
Ø Using computer drawing programs to draw maps and surveying plans.
Ø Using global positioning devices and systems in surveying and mapping work and creating ground fixed points for aerial surveying projects.
Ø Using computers, programs, systems and tools of digital photogrammetry to process digital aerial digital images and create three-dimensional models and create digital surveying maps and create digital models of the Earth’s surface.
Ø Using GIS programs in building spatial and descriptive databases, processing and analyzing data, and extracting results.
The branch aims to award a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering – Geomatics Engineering after completing the requirements of four academic years in addition to completing the requirements of engineering training for a period of 12 weeks.
Research Units
1- Remote Sensing Research Unit
The unit was established in 2004 through the American partnership contract, which is an American grant for the Iraq Reconstruction Program, with the participation of the University of Oklahoma, USA. The unit was equipped with the requirements of computers and various software, Arc GIS, basic software, GPS organizations, a measurement correction receiving station, training programs, and trainers’ licenses for training.
The unit has supported most of the state ministries and trained cadres with this license from the American Esri Corporation, which is the world leader. The unit has been developed and supported with GPR depth detection devices, a resistivity device, and a ferro scan device for examining supports and others.
The unit has qualified many cadres of ministries such as planning, the Secretariat, water resources, agriculture, security services, and many departments, in addition to a number of projects.
In addition to direct support for postgraduate students, doctorate. Masters. Diploma, in addition to undergraduate students.
2- Water Desalination Research Unit
This unit was established in 2015. This unit finds successful solutions to water desalination problems due to the scarcity of water resources, as the world varies between desalination of seawater or treatment of wastewater and rainwater and reuse it, and works as a link between the industrial sector and researchers at the university (industrial cooperation) by establishing a pioneering experimental station and developing solutions to industry problems in the field of water desalination and manufacturing new materials from membranes or nanomaterials and conducting research at a medium level and conducting a long-term evaluation of this research to determine the effectiveness of this work and thus establish a project to achieve benefit for all as well as determining roles to educate society.
4- Mission and Objectives of the Department of Civil Engineering
Vision of the Department of Civil Engineering: To be among the most distinguished civil engineering departments in terms of creativity and leadership in the field of civil engineering specializations, meeting the renewed requirements of society and the rapid technological developments.
Message of the Department of Civil Engineering: To prepare efficient applied engineers and scientific research cadres with a distinguished level of knowledge and technological creativity that achieves quality assurance and academic accreditation according to the solid standards approved globally in engineering and scientific curricula, while adhering to the ethics of the engineering and scientific profession.
Objectives of the Civil Engineering Department:
A. Providing efficient and qualified engineering staff to meet the country’s need for them according to the requirements of accelerating the achievement of scientific, economic and social development goals and contributing to securing teaching staff for universities and technical institutes.
Focusing on scientific research and its fundamental role in serving society and solving its problems by conducting applied research and scientific and engineering consultations for relevant parties, and taking care of precise specializations related to the edges of science and in a way that achieves development requirements by establishing specialized research centers concerned with research and development.
Encouraging the establishment of postgraduate studies for rare specializations and for all specializations of the Civil Engineering Department and for the master’s and doctoral levels.
Creating new paths for engineering education and training to keep pace with scientific and technological development and in a way that is consistent with the country’s needs through the preparation of courses, seminars and scientific conferences.
Establishing and developing scientific and cultural relations with civil engineering departments in Arab and international universities and scientific institutions in order to enhance scientific cooperation and exchange of experiences and to ensure contribution to achieving development goals.
Continuous development of curricula and study plans for all stages and levels of study to keep pace with rapid developments in all engineering and scientific fields.
Continuous pursuit of improving and developing performance in the field of civil engineering to achieve comprehensive quality assurance and to ensure the acceleration of obtaining academic accreditation.
The department is interested in publishing and announcing the vision, mission and objectives, defining them and communicating them to all beneficiaries from parties related to the university, including faculty, employees, students, graduates and employers, through the presence of a distinguished website for the department that is dynamic in its mechanism and linked to all scientific and administrative departments, centers and departments, in addition to announcing the vision and mission in the corridors of the university presidency.
The vision, mission and objectives of the department do not work in isolation from the needs and requirements of the beneficiaries, as this is taken into account through the procedures carried out by the department in terms of surveying the opinions of all beneficiary parties through questionnaires or involving them in councils and committees.
5- Strategic Planning Committee:
Based on the letter of the Office of the Assistant President of the University of Technology for Scientific Affairs and Postgraduate Studies No. (M.M.E/776 dated 10/4/2020), the Strategic Plan Preparation Committee was formed in the department on 10/13/2020 pursuant to Administrative Order No. M/1078 dated 10/13/2020. The committee included the following gentlemen:
1- Prof. Dr. Mahmoud Rashid Mahmoud / Chairman
2- Prof. Dr. Maan Salman Hassan / Member
3- Asst. Prof. Dr. Qais Jawad Freih / Member
4- Asst. Prof. Dr. Muzahim Abdul Karim Alwan / Member
5- Asst. Prof. Dr. Wael Shawqi Abdul Sahib / Member
6- Preparing for planning (Strategic plan formulation incentives)
The axes that will be used to analyze strengths and weaknesses can be limited to the following:
1- Vision, mission, objectives of the department and the strategic plan
2- Administrative structure of the department
3- Financial and material resources
4- Curricula
5- Students
6- Faculty members, graduate studies and scientific research
7- Community service
8- Quality assurance
First: Strengths and weaknesses in the internal environment of the department (Strengths and Weaknesses):
Table No. 1 Strengths and weaknesses within the axis of the vision, mission, goals of the department and the strategic plan
Strengths
0 The department has a vision, mission and objectives formulated according to internationally recognized quality assurance standards in the fields of engineering and scientific curricula and professional ethics in pursuit of academic accreditation.
0 A periodic review of the department’s vision, mission and objectives is conducted when changes occur in the internal or external educational environment, whether at the level of scientific branches through the Quality and Academic Accreditation Committee or the formation of specialized committees, or by benefiting from advisory expert councils as well as student and faculty questionnaires.
0 The department has a general strategic plan derived from its vision and objectives and has sought to implement it since it began working on the basics of quality assurance in the university education sector, the latest of which was issued in the self-evaluation report according to the national standards for institutional accreditation for the academic year 2019/2018.
0 The presence of administrative support from the department’s presidency reflects its approach to developing and improving the outcomes of the educational process and the great belief of the department’s presidency in the importance of defining future features and translating goals into action plans.
0 Spreading awareness of the basics of quality assurance and striving to obtain programmatic and institutional accreditation
0 Good relations prevailing between the department head and the faculty and staff.
0 Diversity of academic programs in the department.
. The organizational structure of the university is reviewed periodically by the Organizational Structures Committee.
. The department’s procedures are characterized by transparency, especially with regard to administrative procedures that limit corruption, such as applying laws and instructions accurately and clearly, forming audit and investigation committees, price moderation committees, and receiving complaints and suggestions.
0 Exchanging information of all kinds in an easy manner to strengthen trust between students, faculty and staff, which leads to attracting them to participate in development plans.
0 Activating many agreements concluded between the department and international scientific bodies such as universities and scientific institutions, and striving to conclude new agreements.
Weaknesses
0 Lack of periodic review of the implementation of the strategic plan and the obstacles that prevent its implementation.
0 Lack of close review of the department’s strategic plan by faculty members.
0 Failure to commit to implementing strategic plan projects in the past years, as it should not be limited to preparing plans and keeping them in offices and computers.
0 Lack of a sub-strategy for education and learning.
0 Failure to specify objective criteria for selecting academic leaders (branch head, department head, assistants to the department head)
0 Lack of scientific journals with Cite Score or Impact Factor
0 Lack of funding necessary to implement strategic plan projects.
0 Failure to link educational programs to labor market requirements, which has led to many graduates not obtaining job opportunities. For students and graduates.
0 Lack of funding for faculty participation in seminars, conferences, and workshops held at the Arab or international level, and the great importance of these participations in exchanging experiences is not hidden.
0 Lack of educational programs that have obtained programmatic accreditation according to national standards, although there is a diligent effort to obtain national accreditation in preparation for applying for programmatic accreditation from ABET.
0 There is no plan to attract foreign students to study at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and there is an opportunity for this now that education has become remote due to the current health conditions.
0 Weakness in concluding cooperation programs with government institutions related to the university’s specializations to finance postgraduate students’ research (master’s and doctorate) that represent solutions to problems suffered by these institutions, and the defect may be in the lack of funding by these institutions.
0 Not making good use of previous academic competencies in formulating and implementing plans that contribute to achieving the university’s declared goals.
0 Weak participation of civil society organizations and private sector companies in supporting the various activities of the university.
0 Imbalance in the ratio of faculty members to students.
0 Failure to benefit from the activities of international organizations such as UNESCO, UNICEF and others.
0 Overlapping of some ministerial instructions and regulations with the laws in force, which confuses the work.
0 Competition of foreign educational institutions with reputable Iraqi universities, especially in postgraduate studies, due to the limited number of seats in our university, which leads to our students studying abroad, even if at levels lower than those of our universities.
0 Weak infrastructure of the department, including advanced laboratories, modern halls, spacious spaces and gardens.