Iraq to Launch New Colleges for AI and Digital Excellence
The Iraqi Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research has announced the establishment of two new colleges at the University of Baghdad: the College of Excellence and the College of Artificial Intelligence, with operations set to begin in the 2025/2026 academic year.
The initiative was ordered by Higher Education Minister Dr. Naeem Abd Yaser Al-Aboudi, as part of a strategic vision to modernise Iraq's academic system and align it with global advancements in digital transformation and knowledge-based economies.
The College of Excellence will house departments including Applied Information Systems, Data Science, E-Business Management, Accounting and Banking, Philosophy, and Sociology.
Meanwhile, the College of Artificial Intelligence will offer programmes focused on engineering applications, biomedical AI, and big data analytics.
Dr. Al-Aboudi has set 20 August 2025 as the deadline for fulfilling all logistical and staffing requirements. The Ministry's Directorate of Studies, Planning and Follow-up has been tasked with establishing admissions criteria and application mechanisms to ensure the recruitment of capable students and the development of forward-looking learning environments.
The full ministerial order can be viewed here.
(Source: Ministry of Higher Education)
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