Under the patronage of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and in partnership with the Eurasian Universities Union (EURAS), Al-Mustaqbal University inaugurated the activities of the EURAS Academy 2026 Forum, marking the first time this international scientific event has been held in Iraq. The forum brought together a distinguished group of higher education leaders, decision-makers, and academics from within Iraq and abroad. The opening ceremony was attended by the representative of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, the Deputy Minister for Administrative Affairs, Professor Dr. Adnan Al-Jumaili; the President of EURAS and President of Istanbul Aydin University, Professor Dr. Mustafa Aydin; and the President of Al-Mustaqbal University, Professor Dr. Hassan Shaker Majdi, alongside numerous Iraqi university presidents, assistants, deans, professors, and researchers. The forum commenced with a speech delivered on behalf of the University Presidency by Professor Dr. Muzaffar Sadiq Al-Zuhairi, Director of Scientific and Academic Supervision. He emphasized that hosting this international event reflects Al-Mustaqbal University’s advanced academic standing and its leading role in promoting scientific dialogue, international openness, and the building of strategic partnerships. He noted that the forum takes place amid rapid global transformations in higher education, particularly in digital transformation, artificial intelligence, quality assurance, and sustainability, and the responsibilities these shifts impose on universities to redesign their educational models and build next-generation institutions. For his part, Professor Dr. Mustafa Aydin expressed his gratitude and appreciation to Al-Mustaqbal University and its leadership for the excellent organization and hosting of the international forum, affirming that EURAS Academy serves as an effective platform for strengthening academic cooperation, internationalization, and building bridges among universities in Iraq, Turkey, Europe, and Asia. Meanwhile, the Deputy Minister, Professor Dr. Adnan Al-Jumaili, stressed the importance of international partnerships in advancing higher education, highlighting the depth of Iraqi–Turkish cooperation and the need to benefit from global experiences to enhance the quality of university education. The forum is held under the theme “Quality, Sustainability, and Global Partnerships: Transformation in Higher Education in the Middle East and North Africa Region.” It features four specialized panel sessions addressing key issues related to governance and strategic leadership, quality culture, aligning global standards with local contexts, digital transformation and artificial intelligence, as well as internationalization, academic mobility, joint research, sustainability pathways, green campus models, and the integration of Sustainable Development Goals into universities’ institutional strategies. The opening ceremony also featured a distinguished artistic performance showcasing the civilization of Mesopotamia throughout the ages, conveying a cultural message that reflected the depth of Iraq’s civilizational heritage and its historic role in the advancement of knowledge. In a statement to media outlets covering the event, the President of Al-Mustaqbal University, Professor Dr. Hassan Shaker Majdi, affirmed that hosting this significant international event underscores the university’s commitment to strengthening cross-border academic partnerships and consolidating its position as a leading institution in supporting excellence, innovation, and shaping the future of higher education in Iraq and the region.