Under the theme “Empowering Graduates and Tackling Unemployment towards a Sustainable Professional Future,” Al-Mustaqbal University held its Second Employability and Career Development Forum, under the patronage of Professor Dr Hassan Shaker Majdi, President of Al-Mustaqbal University, under the supervision of Professor Dr Mudhaffar Sadiq Al-Zuhairy, Director of Scientific and Academic Supervision, and organised by the Rehabilitation, Employment and Follow-up Division. The forum brought together academics, representatives of government institutions and the private sector, as well as university students and graduates.
The forum opened with a speech by the University President, delivered on his behalf by Professor Dr Mudhaffar Sadiq Al-Zuhairy, in which he highlighted the University’s role in preparing graduates with the knowledge and professional and leadership skills required to compete effectively in the labour market. He also stressed the importance of expanding partnerships with government institutions and the private sector to provide students and graduates with greater training, qualification, and employment opportunities.
The forum featured a series of specialised sessions addressing management skills and entrepreneurship as effective pathways to tackling graduate unemployment and creating employment opportunities. The sessions were presented by Professor Dr Haider Al-Dulaimi, Dean of the College of Administrative Sciences.
Eng. Huda Qasim, representing the Ministry of Industry and Minerals, addressed the importance of university–ministry partnerships and the alignment of higher education outcomes with the needs of the industrial labour market, thereby enhancing graduates’ readiness to enter diverse professional sectors.
Ms Jinan Adel Makki, Managing Director of Bawabat Akad for Rehabilitation and Employment, discussed graduates’ readiness for the labour market and the transition from academic preparation to professional empowerment. She highlighted the importance of employability skills, practical training, and continuous professional development.
Mr Mustafa Abbas Sabr, a prominent project developer in the Iraqi market, addressed the transition from stigma to empowerment, highlighting the importance of building graduates’ confidence, encouraging innovation and self-employment, and enabling young people to create opportunities rather than simply seek them.
The forum also featured success stories and professional journeys of Al-Mustaqbal University graduates, providing practical examples of successful career pathways and inspiring students and graduates to plan their professional futures and make effective use of available opportunities.
The forum concluded with a set of recommendations presented by Professor Dr Iman Abdul Aziz, Director of the Rehabilitation, Employment and Follow-up Division. The recommendations emphasised the importance of continuing employability and career development programmes, expanding partnerships with government institutions and the private sector, increasing training and employment opportunities, and further developing graduates’ skills to enhance their ability to compete effectively in the labour market.
The forum reflects Al-Mustaqbal University’s commitment to building an integrated system that connects education with labour-market needs, strengthens graduates’ professional readiness, and empowers young people to become active partners in development, creators of opportunities, and contributors to building a sustainable professional future.
SDG 4 – Quality Education: Developing students’ and graduates’ skills and promoting continuous learning and professional development.
SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth: Enhancing employability, entrepreneurship, training, and access to employment opportunities.
SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure: Promoting innovation and entrepreneurship and aligning educational outcomes with labour-market needs.
SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals: Expanding cooperation between the University, government institutions, and the private sector.