Baghdad University opens Iraq’s first Colleges of Excellence, Artificial Intelligence

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Higher Education Ministry on Wednesday inaugurated Baghdad University’s College of Excellence and College of Artificial Intelligence, the first programs of their kind combining sciences, humanities and modern technologies.

The AI college has three departments and five postgraduate programs in engineering applications, biomedical applications and data science, with capacity for 90 students. Officials said more than 450 applications have been received. The College of Excellence offers sociology, data science, applied information systems, management and e-commerce, with 240 seats and more than 700 applicants.

“Today is a historic day for the Ministry of Higher Education with the opening of the Colleges of Excellence and Artificial Intelligence. Through them, curricula in Iraq will be developed and updated,” Higher Education Minister Naim al-Aboudi told 964media. “We do not want these colleges to be just another number added to Baghdad University. We aim in the future to turn them into an independent university specialized in excellence across different fields.”

Al-Aboudi said 237 students with grades above 98% applied to the College of Excellence, where the minimum required average is 85%.

Diaa Jassim, dean of the AI college, said, “For the first time in Iraq, undergraduate and postgraduate studies are being introduced simultaneously through the Ministry of Higher Education. The AI department is globally important, with jobs ranked among the top categories according to UNESCO.” He said postgraduate classes begin Sept. 14 and undergraduate classes Oct. 1.

Ali Hussein, dean of the College of Excellence, said interest has been high. “So far we have received more than 700 applications, while the allocated seats do not exceed 240,” he told 964media.