During a press conference, His Excellency, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Dr. Naeem Abd Yaser Al-Aboudi issued Ministerial orders to convert nine technical institutes within the four technical universities into polytechnic colleges, a strategic step that is the first of its kind in the path of university development in Iraq.

Dr. Al-Aboudi said that the establishment of specialized polytechnic colleges and the conversion of a number of technical institutes into them represents a strategic decision aimed at:

▪️Consolidating diversity in higher education models.

▪️Linking technical universities to industrial and production centers and enhancing the technical capabilities the country needs to implement industrial development plans.

▪️Achieving integration between academic and applied education.

▪️Providing an attractive educational environment that accommodates technological developments and provides the labor market with specialized technical competencies capable of meeting diverse requirements.

▪️Opening new horizons for innovation Entrepreneurship is open to students.

According to the ministerial orders issued, which will be effective from the 2025/2026 academic year, the decisions included are as follows:

First / Middle Technical University - Baghdad

◼️ Converting the Institute of Technology - Baghdad to the Polytechnic College for Engineering Specialties - Baghdad, which includes the following departments

▪️Programmed Manufacturing Engineering Technologies

▪️Electronics Engineering & Artificial Intelligence Technologies

▪️Chemical & Petroleum Industries Engineering Technologies

◼️ Converting the Institute of Applied Arts - Baghdad to the Polytechnic College for Applied Arts - Baghdad, which includes the following departments

▪️Interior Design Technologies

▪️Goldsmithing & Jewelry Technologies

▪️Ceramic Technologies

◼️ Converting the Technical Administration Institute - Baghdad to the Administrative Polytechnic College - Baghdad, which includes the following departments

▪️Legal Management Technologies

▪️Technologies Accounting

▪️ Establishment of the Department of Business Administration Technology

Second / Northern Technical University - (Nineveh, Kirkuk)

◼️ Converting the Technical Institute - Kirkuk to the Polytechnic College - Kirkuk, which includes two departments

▪️ Building & Construction Engineering Technologies

▪️ Accounting Technologies

◼️ Converting the Technical Institute - Hawija to the Polytechnic College - Hawija, which includes the following departments

▪️ Medical Device Engineering Technologies

▪️ Network & Computer Software Technologies

▪️ Electrical Engineering Technologies

◼️  Converting the Technical Institute - Mosul to the Polytechnic College - Mosul, which includes the following departments

▪️ Mechanical Engineering Technologies

▪️ Electronic & Communications Engineering Technologies

▪️ Surveying Engineering Technologies

▪️ Environmental & Water Resources Engineering Technologies

▪️ Engineering Technologies Autotronics

Third / Southern Technical University

◼️ Converting the Technical Institute - Al-Qurnah to the Polytechnic College - Al-Qurnah, which includes the following departments

▪️Computer Engineering and Artificial Intelligence Technologies

▪️Electrical Engineering Technologies

Fourth / Al-Furat Al-Awsat Technical University (Diwaniyah, Karbala):

◼️ Converting the Technical Institute - Al-Qadisiyah to the Polytechnic College - Al-Qadisiyah, which includes the following departments

▪️Accounting Technologies

▪️Business Administration Technologies

▪️Insurance & Banking Technologies

▪️Mechanical Engineering Technologies

◼️ Converting the Technical Institute - Al-Qarnah to the Polytechnic College - Al-Qarnah, which includes the following departments

▪️Electrical Engineering Technologies

▪️Mechanical Engineering Technologies

▪️Building & Construction Technologies Engineering

▪️Technology Engineering Information

▪️Renewable Energy Engineering Technologies

▪️Business Management Technologies

▪️Accounting Technologies

▪️Tourism Technologies

▪️Finance & Banking Technologies

It is worth to be mentioned that the conference was attended by the Deputy of the Ministry for Scientific Research Affairs and the presidents of the technical universities.