In a significant step toward expanding scientific and international collaboration, Sharif University of Technology (SUT) and Al-Farahidi University (AFU) in Iraq have conducted the first in-person interviews for applicants to their joint Master’s program in Mechatronics Engineering.
A delegation from SUT’s Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, comprising Dr. Alasti (Chair), Dr. Saadat (Vice Chair for Education), and Dr. Vosoughi (Mechatronics Program Director), accompanied by Dr. Sadeghi (Dean of the Center for Scientific and International Collaborations), traveled to Baghdad on August 19–20, 2026. The visit was hosted by AFU and marked the first face-to-face interviews for prospective students of the newly established joint graduate program.
The interview panel also included senior representatives from AFU, such as the Chair of the Board of Trustees, the University President, the Vice President for Academic Affairs, and the deans of both the Faculty of Engineering and the Faculty of Technical Engineering. Together, they assessed candidates based on academic records, English proficiency, and motivation for graduate study.
The joint Master’s in Mechatronics Engineering was officially approved by Iraq’s Ministry of Higher Education following a year of negotiations and preparatory work. For the inaugural cohort, 23 applications were received. After rigorous evaluation during the interviews and document reviews, seven candidates were deemed eligible for admission.
Per the regulations set by Iraq’s Ministry of Higher Education, and in order to maintain high educational standards in collaboration with top international universities, the intake capacity for the first year has been capped at 10 students—a number that may be expanded in future semesters.
During the visit, SUT delegation also toured AFU’s educational infrastructure, including selected laboratories and facilities, as well as housing and amenities designated for visiting faculty members. Subsequent meetings with AFU officials focused on program implementation and finalizing arrangements for the official course commencement.
The first joint Master’s program in Mechatronics Engineering between SUT and AFU in Baghdad is scheduled to begin in October 2026, with faculty members from SUT’s Department of Mechanical Engineering delivering instruction in Baghdad.
