As part of the university’s efforts to enhance its role in serving the community and contributing to economic development…
and to communicate with industry to develop academic programs to meet industry needs and exchange expertise and resources to achieve integration between the two sides…
The Industrial Advisory Board at Al-Furat Al-Awsat Technical University held its second meeting for 2025, chaired by the university president, Professor Hassan Latif Kazim Al-Zubaidi, and attended by representatives of the public and private sectors. A delegation from the World University Service in Canada (Tawasul Project), headed by Osama Mohammed Kazim, attended part of the meeting. Also present were the vice president for scientific affairs, Professor Ahmed Ghanim Wadday, and a number of deans of university formations and directors of relevant departments.
In his welcoming remarks, the university president highlighted the importance of partnerships between the university and the public and private sectors to meet the needs of both, as they are the ultimate beneficiaries of the university’s graduates in various disciplines. His Excellency also thanked the university’s guests, representatives of the field of work and the delegation from the World University Service in Canada, for their attendance and continued cooperation with the university.
For his part, Professor Ali Abdul Hussein Al-Dhalimi, Director of the Scientific Affairs Department at the University Presidency, gave a presentation on the reality of summer training and the need to strengthen the focus on training students in the private and public sectors, reviewing the advantages and challenges of summer training in each.
He also reviewed the prospects for partnerships between the university and the private sector in light of the ninth amendment to the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research Law related to developing the work of the technology incubator and permitting partnerships between the university and the private sector to establish technology and scientific incubators and joint-stock companies, thus contributing to the investment of scientific and research knowledge in economic development and eliminating unemployment.
The second paragraph of the amendment stipulates that university councils have the right to contract with the private sector, in accordance with the Investment Law, to build teaching hospitals, scientific production laboratories, agricultural and animal investments, and sports centers, in support of the educational process, scientific research, and undergraduate and graduate studies.
The meeting also discussed the draft guide for industrial advisory councils prepared by the World University Service in Canada, a Tawasul project, with a representative from the organization present. The meeting also witnessed dialogues and discussions in which several council members spoke about training and its importance in developing the skills of students and graduates. They presented ideas and initiatives to strengthen cooperation with the university, serving the goals of higher education and preparing graduates to enter the labor market efficiently and successfully.
Within the framework of supporting entrepreneurial projects for students, graduates, and faculty members, the conference participants called for the preparation of investment and entrepreneurship fairs as an essential part of the activities of technology incubators.
The results of the employment fairs held during the previous period by the Najaf and Karbala Institutes and the university presidency were also evaluated.
On another note, the attendees were briefed on the efforts made to design training curricula by the university’s Continuing Education Center to bridge the gap between the labor market and academic studies.
The meeting resulted in a set of decisions and recommendations aimed at strengthening cooperation between the university and the field of work to achieve common goals. These decisions will be submitted to the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research for approval.
Nihad Al-Rubaie / Director of the Media and Government Communication Department
at Al-Furat Al-Awsat Technical University
