According to the Memorandum of Understanding signed between Ferdowsi University of Mashhad and University of Al-Qadisiyah, the Iraqi Ministry of Higher Education and the Scientific Association of Iraqi Professors, the 5th International Conference on Humanities and Education was held with the participation of 25 professors from Iraq in the conference hall of FUM's guest house on Wednesday, November18, 2020. At the opening ceremonies of the meeting, Prof. Mohammad Kafi, President of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, appreciated the presence of Iraqi professors in FUM, despite the problems and limitations caused by COVID-19, and said that exapnding relations with countries in the region, especially Iraq, is  among the main policies of FUM. Referring to the glorious Islamic civilization during the connection between the scientific centers of Khorasan and Baghdad, Prof. Kafi expressed hope that the increasing connection between the professors and academics of Iran and Iraq could once again create the ground for the growth and development of their countries globally. The President of FUM announced his readiness to provide the scientific and technological experiences of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad to Iraqi universities, and that the presence of more than 1,000 students from Iraq paved the way for the expansion and deepening of such relations.

Dr. Ehsan Ghabool, Director of International Scientific and Academic Relations and International Student Affairs of FUM welcomed the guests and reported that the conference was originally scheduled to be held in the March of last year with the participation of 150 Iraqi and other Arab professors, but considering the limitations caused by COVID-19 pandemic, 25 speakers will participate be in person and the rest will participate virtually today and tomorrow. Dr. Ghabool mentioned that holding joint conferences and publishing joint works, including journals and books with Iraq's top universities are among the priorities of FUM's International Academic Relations Department.

At the opening of the ceremony, the representative of the Iraqi Ministry of Higher Education, the President of the University of Al-Qadisiyah, the Chairman of the scientific work group of the conference and the President of the Hayat Al-Nafous Institute also thanked Ferdowsi University of Mashhad and delivered speeches.

Proceedings of the conference from professors of Arab countries, Lebanon, Syria, and Iran will be published by Ferdowsi University of Mashhad.