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In a significant academic and scientific initiative at the regional level, the first preparatory meeting for organizing the Second International Conference on Artificial Intelligence for Sustainability in the Developing World (AISDW26) was held on Wednesday, 12 August 2026, at the Presidency of Duhok Polytechnic University (DPU).

The meeting was attended by the presidents and representatives of eight universities from the Kurdistan Region, including:

Prof. Dr. Ari Adil, President of Duhok Polytechnic University.

Prof. Dr. Manhal Ilham Abdul, President of Akrê University for Applied Sciences.

Asst. Prof. Dr. Payman Ramadan Ahmed, President of Raparin University.

Prof. Dr. Kawa Abdulmajid Shirwani, President of International University of Erbil (IUE).

Prof. Dr. Abdulqadir Naqshbandi, President of Lebanese French University (LFU).

Asst. Prof. Dr. Chia Mohammed Hassan, President of Garmian Polytechnic University (GPU).

Asst. Prof. Dr. Sherwan Sharif Qurtas, President of Soran University.

A representative of Prof. Dr. Diyar Abdulkarim Saeed, President of University of Zakho.

The meeting was also attended by Prof. Dr. Jamal Ali Omar, Director General of the Center for Scientific Research and an advisor to university presidents on academic, administrative, and student affairs.

The primary objective of the meeting was to establish the necessary organizational framework, coordination mechanisms, and preparatory arrangements to ensure the successful implementation of the Second International Conference on Artificial Intelligence for Sustainability in the Developing World (AISDW26), which will be held under the theme of artificial intelligence and sustainability.

During the meeting, representatives of the participating universities discussed the conference’s main scientific themes and agreed on the distribution of academic, administrative, and logistical responsibilities among the participating institutions.

The significance of the conference was further highlighted by the fact that it represents the first international scientific conference to be jointly organized through direct collaboration and coordinated efforts among eight universities in the Kurdistan Region in partnership withUniversiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), and delivered in a hybrid format. This collaborative initiative is expected to constitute a major academic achievement and contribute to strengthening the higher education and scientific research sector in the Kurdistan Region.

The conference will provide an academic platform for researchers, academics, and specialists to exchange knowledge, present research findings, and explore the role of artificial intelligence in advancing sustainable development, particularly within developing-world contexts.