AHU Participates in the Iraq Education Conference 2026 (3rd Edition) with a Keynote Address on Linking Learning Outcomes to the Labour Market

Baghdad, Iraq -- 29 October 2026 - Al-Hadba University took part in the Iraq Education Conference 2026 (3rd Edition), organised by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in Baghdad on 28–29 October 2026. The University was represented by Prof. Dr. Salah I. Yahya, Vice President for Scientific Affairs, who delivered a keynote address in Session B: "Learning Outcomes: Linking Learning to Labor Market", one of the conference's central themes on the future of higher education in Iraq.

🌐 A National Platform for the Future of Education

The conference opened on Wednesday, 28 October 2026 in the Main Hall with a ceremony that included a speech by the Organizing Committee delivered by Dr. Hayder Abd Dhahad, followed by speeches from the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and the Prime Minister. The opening also featured two keynote addresses by Dr. Jim Burkee and Dr. Salman Rawaf. Over two days, the conference brought together ministry leaders, university presidents, academics, international partners and employers in parallel sessions across four halls.

🎤 Keynote Address in Session B

Session B was held on the first day of the conference, from 12:00 to 13:00 in Hall B, and was organised by the Directorate of Studies, Planning and Follow-up at the Ministry. In his keynote, Prof. Dr. Salah I. Yahya addressed how universities can design their academic programmes around clear, measurable learning outcomes that respond directly to the skills and competencies required by the labour market.

💡 Key Messages of the Keynote

• Outcome-based programme design -- building every programme and module on clearly defined learning outcomes, rather than on content alone.
• Alignment of teaching, learning and assessment -- ensuring that teaching methods and assessment tools actually measure the outcomes that graduates are expected to achieve.
• Engagement with employers -- involving employers and professional bodies in reviewing curricula, defining graduate attributes and offering practical training.
• The Bologna Process as an enabler -- drawing on his experience as a member of the Ministry's Higher Committee for implementing the Bologna Process in Iraq, he highlighted the role of ECTS credits, qualifications frameworks and student-centred learning in making Iraqi qualifications transparent, comparable and relevant.

📊 Participants' Evaluation

The session received a strong response in the official post-session evaluation conducted by the conference organisers. When asked how much benefit they gained from attending the session, participants responded as follows:

   ✅ Great benefit -- 47% of respondents.

   ✅ Moderate benefit -- 40% of respondents.

   ✅ Little benefit -- 13% of respondents.

   ✅ No benefit -- 0% of respondents.

In total, 87% of respondents reported a great or moderate benefit, and none reported gaining no benefit. A similar proportion described the session's topic as highly relevant to their academic or professional interests.

🏛 Conference Programme Highlights

Alongside Session B, the conference programme covered globalisation and cross-border education, scientific research priorities, vocational and technical education, environment and sustainability, artificial intelligence systems for Arabic knowledge, science and technology parks, exchange programmes and scholarships, and the human–machine dilemma in the age of AI. The conference concluded on 29 October 2026 with the presentation of awards and final remarks.

🤝 Leadership and Representation

• Prof. Dr. Hayder A. Dhahad, Deputy Minister for Scientific Research Affairs, Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research
• Prof. Dr. Salah I. Yahya, Vice President for Scientific Affairs at Al-Hadba University, keynote speaker in Session B.
• Asst. Prof. Dr. Hazim Abdul Razzaq, Director General of Directorate of Research and Development, Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research
• Prof. Dr. Burak Arıkan, International Expert in Higher Education Policy, Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research
• Asst. Prof. Dr. Khalid Shnawa Ziara, Director of Quality Assurance and Academic Accreditation, Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research

🚀 Linking Learning to the Labour Market

Al-Hadba University's participation reflects its commitment to outcome-based learning, quality assurance and closer links between the university and the labour market. It also supports the University's contribution to the national higher education reform agenda and to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, in particular SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).

👉 Appreciation:

Al-Hadba University extends its sincere appreciation to the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, the Conference Organizing Committee and the Directorate of Studies, Planning and Follow-up for the invitation and for the excellent organisation of this national event.

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#AlHadbaUniversity #IEC2026 #IraqEducationConference #MoHESR #LearningOutcomes #LabourMarket #Employability #OutcomeBasedEducation #Bologna #ECTS #QualityEducation #SDG4 #SDG8 #HigherEducation #Iraq #Baghdad #Mosul #Nineveh #AHU