Under the direct supervision of the esteemed Dean of the College of Engineering, Professor Dr. Iyad Murad Takhakh, and with the preparation and organization of the preparatory committee, the meeting of the Industrial Advisory Council for the academic year 2024–2025 was held. The event took place at 12:00 noon on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, in the Dijla Hall of the College of Engineering – Al-Nahrain University, and was attended by a distinguished group of representatives from industrial sectors, relevant state institutions, several faculty members, and representatives of scientific departments.

The meeting began with a welcoming speech delivered by the respected Head of the Mechanical Engineering Department, Professor Dr. Aqeel Abdullah Mohammed, who welcomed the attendees from specialized engineering councils and industrial institutions. He emphasized the significance of this meeting as a strategic step towards strengthening the genuine partnership between higher education institutions and the labor and production sectors.

The general objectives of the meeting were then reviewed, focusing on developing engineering education to align with the demands of the labor market and creating an integrated environment between theoretical knowledge and practical application through joint cooperation in training and applied research.

The respected Dean of the College of Engineering, Professor Dr. Iyad Murad Takhakh, delivered a speech reaffirming the college’s commitment to ongoing engagement with the industrial sector. He pointed out that engineering education cannot continue in isolation from global changes in technology and digital manufacturing. The Dean also outlined the college’s efforts to update curricula and expand specializations, announcing the establishment of two specialized new departments: the Department of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Engineering, and the Department of Unmanned Aircraft Engineering. He also highlighted the important role played by other engineering departments, including the Mechanical Engineering Department, which actively contributes to developing students’ applied and research skills.

The meeting featured extensive discussions and contributions, notably regarding field training. Recommendations were made to organize it more specifically and link it to real production line challenges, with a proposal to appoint supervising industrial trainers. Participants also discussed updating curricula to keep pace with advances in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and information security. Emphasis was placed on involving the industrial sector in selecting graduation projects and strengthening applied research collaboration. Suggestions were presented to establish an annual alumni forum in cooperation with the private sector to enhance employment opportunities.

Attendees praised the college’s role in providing engineering consultancy, stressing the need to expand this role to support national production lines and develop local technical solutions.

The meeting included a presentation of a successful experience by one of the college’s graduates who joined the industrial workforce and advanced to an engineering management position, confirming that practical training was a turning point in his career. Additionally, an industry representative delivered remarks on the importance of developing flexible models for academic-industrial collaboration in the context of digital transformation.

This meeting affirms the commitment of the College of Engineering – Al-Nahrain University, particularly the Mechanical Engineering Department, to enhancing its educational outcomes and directly linking them to the needs of industry, thereby achieving integration between the university and the labor market and supporting sustainable national development.