As part of the College of Engineering’s vision to advance applied education and strengthen the role of the university in serving society and industry, the Dean of the College of Engineering, Professor Dr. Ghassan Hamid Abdul Majeed, presented a strategic proposal titled “Educational and Production Factories in Engineering Colleges Toward an Integrated Manufacturing Environment.” This initiative is among the college’s efforts to link engineering education with practical application and to support innovation in line with sustainable development requirements.
The proposal has received approval from the Council of Ministers through an official decree, highlighting its national importance and its role in developing higher education and strengthening local industry. Following this approval, a specialized subcommittee was formed, comprising a distinguished group of experts and faculty members from various departments within the College of Engineering, to review the proposal and develop a comprehensive implementation program based on a clear scientific and practical vision.
The Educational and Production Factories project aims to create a learning environment that simulates real industrial settings, helping bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application. It seeks to equip students with advanced engineering skills in areas such as design, manufacturing, programming, and intelligent systems. The project also focuses on supporting innovation and entrepreneurship by transforming student ideas and projects into prototypes and marketable products, while promoting teamwork and project-based learning to address real industrial challenges.
The project’s implementation plan consists of several integrated stages, beginning with the manufacturing and assembly of electronic devices such as smartphones and computers, followed by the production and assembly of electric vehicles and unmanned aerial vehicles, and extending to the development of smart robotics and renewable energy technologies, particularly solar cells and energy storage systems. The initiative also includes the production of Internet of Things (IoT) devices and biomedical equipment that support healthcare and smart city applications, relying on artificial intelligence, digital manufacturing, and modern communication technologies.
This project is expected to produce graduates with strong practical competencies and real readiness for the labor market, while also supporting national industry and reducing dependence on imports. Furthermore, it opens wide opportunities for the creation of startups based on local engineering innovation. The project aligns with modern trends in higher education and recent legislative amendments that grant universities the authority to establish productive scientific facilities and collaborate with the private sector.
The “Educational Factories” project represents a strategic step toward transforming the College of Engineering into a productive and innovative educational environment, and a key contributor to industrial and technological transformation—enhancing the university’s role in building a knowledge-based economy driven by technology and innovation.
