Administrative Divisions Department of Cultural Relations
As part of its efforts to strengthen international academic and research collaboration, Al-Mustaqbal University, represented by its President, Professor Dr. Hassan Shaker Majdi, paid an official visit to the University of Reading in the United Kingdom. The delegation was accompanied by Professor Dr. Qusay Al-Ahmadi, the Iraqi Cultural Attaché to the United Kingdom, and included Assistant Professor Dr. Ameen Kitab, Assistant Dean for Scientific Affairs at the College of Engineering Technologies at Al-Mustaqbal University. The Iraqi delegation was received by representatives of the University of Reading, including: • Claire Ballard, Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, International Student Recruitment. • Professor Emmanuel A. Essah, Head of the Environmental Engineering School, Professor of Sustainable Technologies and Energy Resilience, and Programme Director of the MSc Sustainable Built Environment Management at the School of Built Environment. • Professor Irem Dikmen Toker, Professor of Construction Engineering and Management at the School of Built Environment. During the visit, the two sides held extensive discussions on prospects for scientific and research cooperation, with particular emphasis on exploring the establishment of a joint Master’s programme in Renewable Energy and Sustainability. Assistant Professor Dr. Ameen Kitab delivered a comprehensive presentation outlining the vision of Al-Mustaqbal University and its College of Engineering Technologies. The presentation highlighted the University’s advanced academic and research capabilities and state-of-the-art infrastructure, particularly in the fields of renewable energy and climate change. It also showcased the University’s outstanding global achievement of ranking first in the world for Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7): Affordable and Clean Energy. For his part, Professor Emmanuel A. Essah commended the content of the presentation, expressing his appreciation for Al-Mustaqbal University’s exceptional achievements and advanced capabilities in the areas of sustainability, scientific research, and addressing the challenges of climate change. The visit culminated in the official signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two institutions. The MoU includes a number of key areas of cooperation, notably: 1. Academic and Research Cooperation: Strengthening joint research projects and scholarly publications, as well as organising academic conferences, seminars, and scientific events. 2. Exchange of Academic Staff and Researchers: Supporting academic exchange programmes for faculty members and postgraduate students to enhance their professional skills, knowledge, and expertise. 3. Academic Facilitation and Student Recruitment: Facilitating the admission of qualified students from Al-Mustaqbal University to undergraduate and postgraduate programmes at the University of Reading. 4. Development of Educational Programmes: Exploring opportunities to develop joint academic programmes and student exchange initiatives. 5. Exchange of Academic Resources and Publications: Promoting the exchange of academic materials, publications, and scholarly resources between the two institutions. 6. Cultural and Knowledge Exchange: Providing opportunities for intellectual, cultural, and academic development for faculty members, staff, and students of both institutions. 7. Summer Schools and Short Courses: Creating opportunities for participation in international summer schools and advanced short-term training programmes. This achievement forms part of Al-Mustaqbal University’s strategic commitment to strengthening its engagement with leading international academic institutions. It further reflects the University’s ongoing efforts to enhance the quality of higher education and scientific research in Iraq, while expanding opportunities for international academic collaboration in areas of strategic importance, particularly renewable energy and sustainability. #Al-Mustaqbal_University #Ranked_first_among_private_universities_in_Iraq #Goal_17_Partnerships_for_the_Goals
An official delegation from Al-Mustaqbal University, led by Prof. Dr. Hasan Shakir Majdi, President of the University, visited the Iraqi Cultural Attaché’s Office in London. The delegation included Prof. Dr. Azhar Mohsen, Dean of the College of Engineering Technologies, and a number of students participating in the University’s international training program in the UK. They were welcomed by Prof. Dr. Qusay Al-Ahmadi, Iraqi Cultural Attaché. The meeting highlighted the University’s international training program at the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol), through which 14 undergraduate students from the College of Engineering Technologies are gaining advanced academic and practical experience in artificial intelligence. Prof. Dr. Al-Ahmadi praised the initiative as a distinctive and pioneering experience among Iraqi universities, particularly in providing undergraduate students with international training opportunities in the UK at this scale. The program reflects Al-Mustaqbal University’s commitment to internationalization, global academic partnerships, and student mobility. By providing students with exposure to leading international academic and technological environments, the initiative aims to enhance their technical skills, broaden their global perspectives, and prepare them to contribute effectively to innovation and digital transformation. The visit also reinforced the University’s commitment to expanding international educational cooperation and creating further opportunities for its students to engage with global academic and research communities. #Al-Mustaqbal_University #Ranked_first_among_private_universities_in_Iraq #Goal_17_Partnerships_for_the_Goals
As part of its ongoing efforts to enhance students’ international exposure and professional competencies, Al-Mustaqbal University’s College of Engineering and Technical Technologies continued its advanced training programme at the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol), with the third day featuring an intensive blend of academic learning and practical applications in advanced engineering and innovation. The third day of the “Digital and Intelligent Systems for Engineering” training programme provided participants with an advanced learning experience encompassing three key areas. The first focused on systems thinking and the integration of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence in complex engineering projects, in collaboration with Synoptix. The second explored the transformative applications of precision engineering in the medical sector and the development of gene therapies, drawing on scientific and professional expertise from AskBio and Cardiff University. The programme concluded with an introduction to the UK research funding landscape through the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), providing participants with valuable insights into available funding opportunities and mechanisms for transforming innovative ideas into viable and competitive projects. The programme covered the following key areas: Systems Engineering and Cybersecurity: An introduction to Synoptix’s solutions and the applications of artificial intelligence in complex engineering projects. Precision Medical Engineering: An interactive training session with an expert from AskBio focusing on the development of gene therapy technologies and intellectual property and patent considerations. Innovation Funding: An overview of funding opportunities and mechanisms provided by UKRI to support the transformation of engineering projects and innovations into commercially viable industrial products. This initiative reflects Al-Mustaqbal University’s continued commitment to equipping its students with up-to-date global knowledge and practical expertise, while preparing a new generation of engineers capable of keeping pace with rapid developments in engineering, technology, and innovation. #AlMustaqbalUniversity #HigherEducation #InternationalTraining #UWEBristol #SystemsEngineering #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #Iraq #Al-Mustaqbal_University #Ranked_first_among_private_universities_in_Iraq #Goal_17_Partnerships_for_the_Goals
As part of Al-Mustaqbal University’s strategic vision, led by its President, Professor Dr Hassan Shakir Majdi, to strengthen academic partnerships with prestigious international universities, particularly in the United Kingdom, the University has launched its first summer training programme in the UK. The initiative reflects the University’s commitment to promoting Academic Mobility for students and academic staff and advancing the internationalisation of higher education in Iraq. A group of students from the College of Engineering Technologies has travelled from Babylon to Bristol to participate in the Summer Training Programme for Capacity Development in Artificial Intelligence at the University of the West of England, Bristol (UWE Bristol). The programme provides students with an international academic experience combining training, practical activities and exposure to contemporary approaches in Artificial Intelligence and digital transformation. It is designed to enhance their technical and academic skills while enabling them to engage with the UK higher education environment and gain insight into innovative practices in their fields. Al-Mustaqbal University emphasises that this opportunity is not limited to students of the College of Engineering Technologies. Further cohorts will be offered to students from other colleges and academic disciplines through subsequent international training programmes, expanding opportunities for students across the University to benefit from academic mobility and international learning experiences. The initiative also reflects Al-Mustaqbal University’s active engagement in the Iraqi–British Academic Bridge Initiative, launched by the Iraqi Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research to strengthen connections and cooperation between Iraqi and British universities and to create new opportunities for collaboration in education, research and knowledge exchange. Moving beyond traditional institutional agreements towards tangible academic experiences, this initiative demonstrates Al-Mustaqbal University’s commitment to providing its students with global opportunities, enhancing the quality of education and developing future-ready skills. #Al-Mustaqbal_University #Ranked_first_among_private_universities_in_Iraq #Goal_17_Partnerships_for_the_Goals
As part of its commitment to expanding international partnerships and advancing the internationalization of higher education in Iraq, Al-Mustaqbal University held an important consultative meeting with the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) to explore new avenues for academic and scientific cooperation, particularly in areas representing strategic priorities and challenges for the region. The Al-Mustaqbal University delegation was headed by University President Prof. Dr. Hasan Shakir Majdi, with the participation of Prof. Dr. Mudhaffar Sadiq Al-Zuhairy, Director of Scientific and Academic Supervision; Prof. Dr. Azhar Mohsen Abd, Dean of the College of Engineering Technologies; and a number of directors of university departments and centers. Representing UC Davis were Dr. Christopher A. Marconi, Director of Business Development for International Programs, and Dr. Jake Hosier, Executive Director of International Access Programs. Dr. Zahraa Al-Naqash also attended as a representative of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. At the outset, Prof. Dr. Hasan Shakir Majdi presented his vision for potential areas of cooperation between the two universities, emphasizing the importance of directing academic partnerships toward the region’s pressing priorities, particularly energy, water, agriculture and climate action, with the aim of generating applicable scientific knowledge and supporting sustainable solutions to existing challenges. Prof. Dr. Mudhaffar Sadiq Al-Zuhairy delivered a presentation on Al-Mustaqbal University, highlighting its achievements in scientific research, international rankings and academic accreditation, as well as its pioneering initiatives in energy, water and agricultural activities. He also presented a preliminary roadmap for cooperation encompassing joint research and academic initiatives and capacity-building programs. The UC Davis representatives welcomed Al-Mustaqbal University’s initiatives and strategic directions and shared their perspectives on potential areas of collaboration. Both sides agreed to maintain communication and coordination regarding joint capacity-building programs in several areas proposed by Al-Mustaqbal University and identified as current priorities. The meeting reflects Al-Mustaqbal University’s vision of developing high-quality partnerships with leading global universities and transforming international cooperation from framework agreements into impactful projects and programs that advance research, innovation and the internationalization of higher education in Iraq. #Al-Mustaqbal_University #Ranked_first_among_private_universities_in_Iraq #Goal_17_Partnerships_for_the_Goals
As part of its early preparations for the 2026–2027 academic year, the Office of Scientific and Academic Supervision at Al-Mustaqbal University held a meeting chaired by Prof. Dr. Mudhaffar Sadiq Al-Zuhairy, Director of Academic Supervision, with the participation of directors and staff members from the Scientific Affairs, Cultural Relations, Quality Assurance and Accreditation, and Science and Technology Parks departments, as well as the Sustainability and International Rankings divisions. The meeting included a comprehensive review of the scientific and academic plans and programs implemented during the previous academic year, paving the way for developing future plans in coordination with the colleges’ deanships, in a manner that enhances performance quality and advances the university’s educational and academic outcomes. Prof. Dr. Mudhaffar Sadiq Al-Zuhairy emphasized the importance of focusing on applied scientific research capable of providing solutions to real-world problems and generating added economic value. He also stressed the need to activate scientific conferences and workshops, enhance the quality of the university’s academic journals, and work toward meeting the requirements for their inclusion in internationally recognized indexing databases. The meeting also addressed the review of existing memoranda of understanding and agreements, assessing their level of implementation and maximizing their potential to support the university’s academic and research mission. The meeting further reviewed the university’s presence in local and international rankings and highlighted the importance of adopting innovative, high-impact initiatives that support the Sustainable Development Goals. It also emphasized completing the requirements for institutional and academic accreditation, thereby strengthening Al-Mustaqbal University’s competitiveness and enhancing its local and international standing. #Al-Mustaqbal_University #Ranked_first_among_private_universities_in_Iraq #Goal_17_Partnerships_for_the_Goals