As part of the ongoing cultural and academic collaboration between educational institutions in Iraq and the Islamic Republic of Iran, Asst. Prof. Dr. Mawahib Saleh Mahdi Al-Khatib, Head of the Cultural Activities Unit at the College of Islamic Sciences – University of Karbala, participated in an academic event organized by the Department of International Media and Journalism at the Higher Education Institute of Shahidah Bint Al-Huda, affiliated with the Iranian Ministry of Higher Education. The participation came in response to an official invitation extended by the institute’s Cultural Affairs Administration.

This engagement is part of a series of activities aimed at exchanging ideas and experiences on the development of student cultural activities in various fields. The goal is to foster intellectual and cultural awareness among students and help create an active university environment that contributes to building strong personalities and enhancing critical thinking skills.

During the session, Dr. Al-Khatib presented the vision of the College of Islamic Sciences at the University of Karbala regarding mechanisms for developing students’ intellectual and cultural competencies, particularly in light of the challenges posed by modern media, social media platforms, and contemporary drama.

She emphasized the importance of enabling students to confront harmful or shallow media content by enhancing their cultural and religious awareness. Furthermore, she advocated for transforming sound Islamic values into meaningful media products—such as films, articles, and research—rooted in the teachings of the Holy Qur’an and the Prophetic Sunnah, thereby contributing to the development of purposeful and modern Islamic media.

The meeting took place at the International Media Department of the Shahidah Bint Al-Huda College in a dynamic academic and cultural atmosphere that reflected a shared commitment to strengthening cultural and scientific cooperation between the two sides.