In the framework of promoting academic belonging and reinforcing the university identity, first-stage students in the Department of Life Sciences took commemorative photos wearing white lab coats alongside the department’s academic and administrative staff, in a scene reflecting their serious scientific beginnings and active engagement within the academic environment. This initiative is part of the activities supporting the educational journey, carrying symbolic significance that reflects commitment to scientific values and strengthens the positive relationship between students and the department staff, contributing to the creation of a motivating learning environment based on cooperation and mutual respect. The Department’s leadership emphasized that this step represents an important moral incentive for first-stage students, encouraging them to advance in their academic journey with a spirit of responsibility and ambition, wishing them continued success throughout their university studies. Al-Mustaqbal University is the first university in Iraq