Salahaddin University and Huawei: A Collaborative Force for Educational Empowerment

The Salahaddin University-Erbil (SUE), established in 1968, is one of the oldest universities in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. It has produced many distinguished leaders, including Iraqi prime ministers, presidents of the Kurdistan Parliament, ministers, and governors, as well as accomplished writers, engineers, and doctors. This legacy has earned it the title of the Mother University, reflecting its pivotal role in shaping the region's crème de la crème in various fields.

The university has 25,366 currently enrolled undergraduate students and offers over 100 majors for them to choose from. Beyond this, it caters to various levels of qualification from certificates all the way to doctorates. Students can complete their entire educational journey at the university.

SUE embarked on its journey with Huawei in 2019 with the establishment of Iraq's first Huawei ICT Academy. Despite the challenges of the pandemic in 2020, SUE maintained communication with Huawei, and the two parties signed an online MoU for setting up the Huawei Datacom Lab. The Huawei ICT Academy at SUE is a hub where students can engage in hands-on laboratory exercises for the datacom course. In this environment, they receive training and enhance their networking skills through practical device configuration and scenario implementation based on the course materials.

As of September 2024, the Huawei ICT Academy, which equips students with essential ICT skills, has benefited about 5,000 students in Iraq, including 2,000 from SUE. This initiative has significantly contributed to the nation's digital talent development.

Building on the success of the Huawei ICT Academy partnership, SUE was eager to explore Huawei's broader technological portfolio. SUE initiated collaboration in the cloud sector and received a three-month trial of Huawei Cloud services. Following this, SUE successfully migrated all its systems and applications to the cloud. This transformation in 2022 has allowed the university to address numerous challenges, including server downtime and resource constraints, leading to more efficient IT operations.

A milestone moment: Establishing the Huawei IASC at SUE

In 2023, our partnership with Huawei reached a significant milestone with the launch of SUE as a Huawei ICT Academy Support Center (IASC). The launch event, attended by government officials, university leaders, and Huawei representatives, demonstrated our dedication to enhancing technological education in the region.

The main objective of SUE IASC is to expand access to education in ICT, particularly in underserved communities. We aim to develop job-ready skills and provide reputable certifications, with the aim of fostering digital literacy and competence for a job market and economy that increasingly demands digital skills. SUE IASC currently runs an Institutional Partnerships and Faculty Development program, and our focus is on certification and accreditation.

SUE IASC began operations in 2023 with a few associated ICT academies and instructors, serving 3,136 students. By 2024, the number of associated ICT academies grew to 12, and the number of instructors grew to 73. Together, these academies have significantly expanded their Huawei course offerings, providing 189 classes across a diverse range of academic programs, including security, datacom, AI, and Python.

SUE IASC offers a state-of-the-art curriculum, practical learning opportunities, and comprehensive training and resources to empower instructors.

Huawei course integration: Industry standards and career success

SUE IASC attaches great importance to curriculum development, accreditation, and adaptation to technological advancements. Its primary goals include raising students' awareness of Huawei courses and enhancing instructors' skills.

To achieve these objectives, SUE established a strategic partnership with Huawei on several initiatives including the Instructor Skill Development Program, and began utilizing Huawei simulation tools. Furthermore, SUE IASC facilitated access to Huawei enterprise accounts and online labs focused on Huawei Cloud, all while implementing the Huawei curriculum framework to further assist students in their educational journeys.

SUE has integrated Huawei courses on datacom, cloud computing, cloud services, AI, Python, security and more into the curricula of four associated ICT academies. This integration followed a standardized process, with the departmental council conducting a comprehensive review of existing syllabi and curricula. As per the university's commitment to the Bologna Process, a key requirement was aligning academic content with market demands. Huawei courses emerged as the optimal solution, resulting in revised course titles and the incorporation of essential chapters into instructors' course outlines.

Huawei courses are designed to incorporate core elements. They emphasize an industry-aligned curriculum, comprehensive learning pathways, and cutting-edge technologies.

As a result, many students who completed Huawei courses have been recruited by the region's leading operators, including Asiacell, Korek Telecom, and Zain. To date, 76 graduates have secured positions with Huawei partner companies, and two have been directly hired by Huawei itself.

Student and instructor camps

Our main goals for the student and instructor camps were skill development, knowledge sharing, and community building. The inaugural Student Camp took place in the summer of 2023, following collaboration with several Huawei ICT Academies. The camp gave students further access to Huawei courses, providing them with essential ICT knowledge and practical skills to boost their employability and launch their careers.

Acknowledging the challenges of our initial implementation, such as accommodating students from diverse backgrounds and universities, we diligently gathered feedback and made improvements for the 2023–2024 camps. Key enhancements included expanding our YouTube channel with videos in three languages, providing comprehensive inductions on Huawei ICT Academy's operations, vision, and mission, and encouraging active participation from students in question-and-answer sessions.

Building on the success of the 2023–2024 Student Camps, SUE recognized the need to invest in instructors and their skillsets. In the summer of 2024, we launched the Instructor Enablement Camp, starting with a pilot program for a select group of educators. This initiative aims to equip instructors with advanced skills and knowledge, enabling them to navigate the evolving technological landscape and guide their students toward success.

Exploring Huawei-enabled education solutions at SUE

SUE prioritizes the establishment of academies in central and southern Iraq to expand our reach and improve accessibility and support for local students. Following the successful integration of the Huawei ICT Academy as a semi-department within SUE, we plan to implement a similar model in other universities, formally incorporating the Huawei ICT Academy into their organizational structures.

Following our successful collaboration in utilizing Huawei Cloud within our university system, we have received numerous inquiries from other universities and companies interested in learning from our experiences. In partnership with the local Huawei representative office, we conducted seminars for two universities and three companies, helping them explore Huawei Cloud services and identify the optimal solutions for their specific needs.

These achievements have reinforced our belief that Huawei's solutions and equipment are ideal for implementation in our new SUE Campus, which is set to be one of the largest universities in the Middle East. The campus will house all academic colleges and student dormitories. Our proposed network infrastructure will use Huawei equipment for networking, firewalls, and storage, alongside solutions from other communication providers.

We envision that we will create a smart campus. After experiencing the smart classroom solution at various exhibitions in Erbil and witnessing an impressive presentation by the Huawei team, we are confident that this solution aligns perfectly with our vision for the future of education at SUE. We are excited to see its implementation and look forward to the transformative impact it will have on our educational environment.

Overcoming challenges: SUE IASC's commitment to TVET education

SUE IASC is actively supporting Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutes at the request of the Kurdistan Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE). TVET typically provides two-year programs. However, two-year programs have their limitations, as this is a relatively short time to equip students with all the knowledge they need. As such, SUE IASC has established two academies in Erbil and Sulaymaniyah and will serve as a Technical Advisor for TVET institutes.

Our approach has three phases. First, we held a meeting with representatives from Huawei, the IASC, and the MOHE to align vocational programs with national standards, discussing key topics like accreditation and curriculum development. We also sought insights from successful vocational education models, with support from Shenzhen Polytechnic University.

The second phase focuses on updating regulations and the credit system for better flexibility. The final phase will include workshops and seminars to ensure implementation of our plans. In addition, to make learning more accessible for all, we have also developed plans to offer Huawei courses in Kurdish.

In conclusion, SUE as an IASC is committed to transforming the landscape of technological education in Iraq. By fostering collaboration with ICT academies, enhancing teacher training, and integrating industry-relevant Huawei courses, SUE is not only equipping educators and students with essential digital skills, but preparing them for the demands of the modern workforce.

As a Technical Advisor for TVET institutes, SUE will ensure that programs align with national policies and standards, supporting the country's broader economic and social goals. These efforts will not only foster innovation and job readiness, but create a stronger educational foundation for Iraq's future. Through these initiatives, SUE is playing a key role in shaping a more skilled and empowered generation.