Al-Mustaqbal University, represented by its President, Professor Dr. Hassan Shakir Majdi, participated in the opening of the third Iraq Education Conference, which commenced on Wednesday, 28 October 2026. The conference was held under the patronage and in the presence of His Excellency the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Professor Dr. Haider Bahaa Al-Hassani, under the theme “From Education to Development: Global Partnerships and Universities Shaping the Future.” The conference brought together high-level participants, including the Chair and members of the Parliamentary Education Committee, the Head of the Advisory Commission, several ministers and officials, and a distinguished gathering of academic leaders, experts, specialists, and international figures. In his opening address, the Minister emphasised that the conference serves as a key platform for exchanging expertise, expanding institutional cooperation, and establishing strategic partnerships to develop the higher education system and strengthen the standing of Iraqi universities in regional and international academic forums. He explained that the Ministry’s vision centres on advancing the concept of the “productive university” through support for applied research, innovation, and entrepreneurship; stronger partnerships with the public and private sectors; and the development of technology incubators that connect educational outcomes with labour market needs and sustainable development requirements. The opening ceremony featured keynote addresses by Professor Jim Burkee, President of Saint Leo University in the United States, and Dr. Salman Rawaf, Director of the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre at Imperial College London. On the sidelines of the conference, the Minister inaugurated the Iraqi Higher Education Exhibition, with broad participation from Iraqi, Arab, and international universities. The exhibition aimed to explore opportunities for academic cooperation, exchange expertise, and expand institutional and scientific partnerships. The two-day conference programme included scientific sessions and specialised discussions covering vocational and technical education, internationalisation and transnational education, research aligned with national priorities, smart digital transformation, sustainability, and the environment. It also addressed investment and strategic partnerships as means of translating shared visions into practical programmes that support the national economy. Al-Mustaqbal University The First University in Iraq