In a new academic achievement reflecting the growing presence of Iraq in the international education and research arena, Iraqi universities have achieved significant results within the Erasmus+ Program for 2026. This accomplishment aligns with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research’s efforts to develop the national research system, strengthen the international presence of Iraqi universities, and expand opportunities for academic partnerships with global institutions and programs. The most notable results included the selection of two Iraqi projects under the Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE) action, in addition to Iraq’s first-ever success in the Jean Monnet activities, through two projects led by Iraqi universities. Under the Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE) action, Iraqi participation was represented by two projects. The first is a regional project entitled: DPP-Eng – Modernizing Engineering Education in Iraq and Yemen for the AI and Digital Product Passport Economy with the participation of the University of Technology. The second is a cross-regional project entitled: DigiResilience – Digital Resilience for Higher Education in Crisis Contexts with the participation of the University of Mosul and the University of Samarra. This marks the first cross-regional project involving Iraq under the program, opening new horizons for Iraqi universities to strengthen international academic cooperation and expand their partnerships beyond the regional framework. In the field of Jean Monnet, 2026 marked a historic milestone in Iraq’s participation, with Al-Turath University securing the TRUST-EU project, focusing on European Union law, artificial intelligence, and disinformation, while Al-Mustaqbal University secured the EU-One Health project, addressing European Union policies in the field of health. These results are particularly significant, especially as Iraq had not secured any projects under the Jean Monnet activities since 2020. The achievements of 2026 therefore represent a qualitative transformation in the level of Iraqi participation and demonstrate the growing capacity of Iraqi universities to compete in international academic programs and establish partnerships that extend beyond regional boundaries toward cross-regional and international cooperation. These achievements further affirm the progress of the roadmap of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, implemented under the supervision of the Department of Scholarships and Cultural Relations, in consolidating the presence of Iraqi universities within the global education and research landscape and transforming international cooperation opportunities into high-quality academic and research projects with sustainable institutional and scientific impact. This new Iraqi achievement embodies the Ministry’s vision of academic openness, strengthening international partnerships, supporting the global competitiveness of Iraqi universities, and advancing their position on the international map of education and scientific research. Al-Mustaqbal University The First University in Iraq