With high-level official and academic attendance from the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, along with a large number of presidents of public and private universities, academics, and students, Al-Mustaqbal University celebrated its achievement of topping Iraqi universities after marking a significant milestone in its academic and scientific journey. The university announced it had secured first place in Iraq in the 2025 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings (THE Impact Rankings), in addition to achieving first place globally in the category of “Affordable and Clean Energy” (Goal 7 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals), in an unprecedented accomplishment that reflects the progress of higher education in Iraq and the university’s commitment to sustainability and institutional excellence. This announcement came during the opening of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research’s conference on the Digital Transformation and Automation Project, hosted by Al-Mustaqbal University under the patronage of His Excellency Dr. Naeem Al-Aboudi, Minister of Higher Education, and in the presence of his representative at the conference, Professor Dr. Haider Abdul-Dhahad, Deputy Minister for Scientific Research Affairs, along with many university presidents, vice presidents, deans, academics, and students. In his speech, Professor Dr. Haider Abdul-Dhahad praised this exceptional achievement by Al-Mustaqbal University, describing it as “a source of pride for all of Iraq, not just for the university.” He emphasized that these results confirm the ability of Iraqi universities to compete internationally when strong will and effective institutional planning are in place. He also highlighted the importance of digital transformation and automation in supporting such achievements, as key tools in enhancing performance, simplifying procedures, achieving transparency, and boosting research activities and the true internationalization of Iraqi higher education. On behalf of the university president, Professor Dr. Hasan Shaker Majdi, Professor Dr. Muzafar Sadiq Al-Zuhairi, Director of Scientific and Academic Supervision at Al-Mustaqbal University, expressed pride in this national achievement. He noted that Al-Mustaqbal University was also ranked in the 201–300 global category among more than 2,300 universities from 130 countries, and achieved advanced rankings in several other Sustainable Development Goals, including: No Poverty (Goal 1) Good Health and Well-being (Goal 3) Quality Education (Goal 4) Clean Water and Sanitation (Goal 6) Climate Action (Goal 13) Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions (Goal 16) Partnerships for the Goals (Goal 17) Dr. Al-Zuhairi stressed that this accomplishment is the result of a clear strategic vision adopted by the university since its establishment, one that is grounded in innovation, sustainability, and digital transformation. He emphasized that universities today are more than ever required to be smart, transparent, and efficient environments, capable of bringing about real change in society. It is worth mentioning that the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings is one of the world’s most prominent rankings, assessing universities based on their contributions to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is considered a prestigious international indicator for evaluating universities in terms of sustainability, community engagement, governance, environment, and education.