In the premises of Shaqlawa Technical College, Al-Furat Al-Awsat Technical University held its First International Scientific Conference, under the patronage of the Ministries of Higher Education and Scientific Research in both the Federal Republic of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. The conference, titled “Engineering and Science for Sustainable Development (ESNSD2026),” was organized by the university under the supervision of its President, Hassan Latif Al-Zubaidi.
The conference aims to enhance capacity-building and knowledge exchange in sustainability-related fields, highlight the latest innovations in engineering and green technologies, support applied research initiatives that link scientific output with societal needs, and encourage partnerships between the public and private sectors to achieve genuine sustainable development.
The event witnessed participation from Al-Qadisiyah Polytechnic College, Najaf Engineering Technical College, and Al-Rumaitha Technical Institute, in cooperation with Shaqlawa Technical College. It also included international participation from seven countries: Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Iran, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and Vietnam, alongside eleven prominent Iraqi universities, namely the University of Baghdad, Erbil Technical University, Al-Mustansiriya University, University of Basra, University of Al-Qadisiyah, University of Dhi Qar, University of Mosul, Tikrit University, University of Technology (Iraq), Middle Technical University, and Al-Kut University College, in addition to Al-Furat Al-Awsat Technical University.
The opening ceremony was attended by the President of Al-Furat Al-Awsat Technical University, Hassan Latif Al-Zubaidi, and the President of Erbil Technical University, Idris Muhammad Taher Herki, along with a representative of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in the Kurdistan Region, as well as a number of academics and researchers from Iraqi universities across both the federal center and the region. The event was also followed online via live broadcast by researchers and staff from various university formations.
In his opening speech, Al-Zubaidi emphasized the importance of scientific research in developing societies, building civilization, and addressing global challenges, particularly in Iraq. He highlighted the pressing challenge of ensuring a sustainable and safe environment for a growing global population amid shrinking available resources, noting that the conference addresses several of these critical issues.
He further explained that the conference features a range of research papers from both Iraqi and international universities. He also noted that the university has made significant progress in establishing genuine research partnerships and encourages researchers whose work has contributed to the university’s inclusion in reputable global rankings. He stressed the university’s commitment to applied scientific research that addresses real societal problems and expressed hope that such conferences and workshops will strengthen cooperation between universities in support of the educational process.
At the conclusion of his speech, he called for the conference outcomes to produce sound scientific recommendations that contribute to addressing developmental challenges and serve as a step toward building a sustainable future for coming generations. He also expressed gratitude to all preparatory, scientific, media, and support committees from both universities for their dedicated efforts in organizing this high-level event.
The conference also featured an inaugural scientific session chaired by Ahmed Razzaq Hassan from Al-Furat Al-Awsat Technical University, and Sivan Hussein Ali from Erbil Technical University.
The keynote speaker, Dr. Abdul Samad Salah Al-Din from Tishk International University, delivered a lecture titled “Artificial Intelligence-Driven Drug Discovery: Innovations, Challenges, and Future Directions,” highlighting AI’s transformative role in accelerating drug discovery, reducing costs, and addressing technical and ethical challenges, while emphasizing interdisciplinary integration between engineering and medical sciences to achieve sustainable healthcare development.
The second keynote speaker, Dr. Vishnu Juno, Director of UI GreenMetric, presented a lecture titled “Sustainability in Action: Advancing the Future of Campuses through UI GreenMetric Indicators.” The lecture focused on sustainability in academic institutions, the role of the UI GreenMetric ranking in evaluating environmental performance, and strategies for developing green campuses through infrastructure optimization, resource efficiency, and environmentally responsible policies aligned with Sustainable Development Goals.
The session was accompanied by a documentary film showcasing the university’s recent achievements, infrastructure development, and ongoing reconstruction initiatives, as well as a similar film about Erbil Technical University.
At the conclusion of the first day, the President of the University expressed his appreciation to all professors, researchers, and postgraduate students who contributed to enriching the conference. He also presented a commemorative gift featuring key landmarks of the university to the President of Erbil Technical University and several guests and general directors from the Kurdistan Region.
