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As part of its vision to internationalize higher education and strengthen research excellence, Al-Mustaqbal University held a high-level strategic meeting with Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), USA—a Carnegie-designated R1 Research University—to explore academic collaboration and the establishment of joint Master’s programmes in two of the most in-demand disciplines of the future: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Cybersecurity. The meeting was chaired by Professor Hassan Shaker Majdy, President of Al-Mustaqbal University, and Dr. Asef Eskandarian, Dean of the VCU College of Engineering. Representatives from the Iraqi Cultural Attaché in Washington, D.C., and the Iraqi Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research also participated to ensure that the proposed programmes align with both international academic standards and Iraq’s national higher education regulations. The Al-Mustaqbal University delegation included Professor Hassan Shaker Majdy, Professor Mudhaffar Sadiq Al-Zuhairy, Director of Scientific and Academic Supervision, Professor Azhar M. Abd, Dean of the College of Engineering and Technologies, together with senior officials from the International Relations, Cultural Scholarships, and Scientific Affairs departments, as well as a number of academic staff. The VCU delegation was led by Dr. Asef Eskandarian and included the Director of Graduate Studies and several senior academic leaders from the College of Engineering. The Iraqi Cultural Attaché was represented by Dr. Hussein Al-Sheikh and Dr. Alaa Al-Husseini, while the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research was represented by Zahraa Al-Naqash. During the meeting, VCU presented the capabilities of its College of Engineering as part of an R1 research institution, highlighting its internationally recognized expertise in robotics, autonomous systems, and advanced engineering research. The two universities agreed on the initial framework for developing the proposed joint Master’s programmes. Professor Hassan Shaker Majdy emphasized that Al-Mustaqbal University is pursuing an ambitious strategy to transform education and research from a national focus into a globally connected ecosystem through partnerships with leading international universities such as VCU. He noted that this vision includes introducing internationally benchmarked postgraduate programmes in Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity based on the curricula and academic standards of partner institutions, while expanding collaborative research in robotics, intelligent systems, and cybersecurity. The strategy promotes joint scientific publications in high-impact international journals and strengthens academic mobility through faculty exchanges, research fellowships, and international scholarly visits. #Al-Mustaqbal_University #Ranked_first_among_private_universities_in_Iraq #Goal_17_Partnerships_for_the_Goals