On June 8, 2026, the Artificial Intelligence Department of the Applied Science Faculty at Tishk International University (TIU) formally established a strategic partnership with Optimal Company in Erbil. The signing event, led by Hemin Ibrahim, Head of the Artificial Intelligence Department, and Star Dawood Mirkhan, CEO of Optimal Company, aims to promote vital educational and scientific initiatives between academia and the technology industry.
This one-year collaboration establishes a comprehensive framework for scientific exchange and professional development. Through this agreement, students from their first to fourth years, alongside lecturers and researchers, will gain unparalleled access to practical training and internship opportunities. Optimal Company will offer students hands-on experience in real-world application and system development projects. Furthermore, this initiative creates direct pathways for hiring new graduates within the local tech industry. The university will reciprocate by providing specialized training courses in emerging AI technologies to upskill Optimal’s development team and instructors. Both parties will also collaborate on solving technical problems and leading programming bootcamps for local youth.
This strategic partnership actively supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. By providing hands-on training, robust internships, and specialized upskilling courses, the collaboration directly advances Quality Education (SDG 4). Additionally, applying academic research to foster innovative approaches for intelligent apps and systems contributes significantly to Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (SDG 9). Finally, this formal agreement between TIU and the technology sector exemplifies Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17), demonstrating how cross-sector collaboration can enhance local technological literacy and empower the Erbil community.
