Under the auspices of the President of Al-Nahrain University and with the continuous support of the Dean of the College of Engineering and the Head of the Department of Architecture, Al-Nahrain University welcomed a delegation from the University of Cagliari, Italy, on Sunday, February 16, 2025. The delegation was led by Professor Dr. Maddalena Achenza, a faculty member at the College of Environmental, Civil, and Architectural Engineering at the University of Cagliari.

The purpose of the visit was to officially receive the signed copies of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two universities. The President of Al-Nahrain University, Professor Dr. Ali Al-Shawi, welcomed the Italian delegation in his office. Also in attendance were:

●      Professor Dr. Jumaa Salman Chiad, Dean of the College of Engineering

●      Professor Dr. Haitham Abdul Hussein Alshimmari, Head of the Department of Architecture

●      Professor Dr. Alaa Hussein Abdul Hafidh, Administrative Assistant

●      Professor Dr. Saba Sami Al Ali, faculty member in the Department of Architecture and coordinator of the MoU with Dr. Achenza

During the meeting, the Rector of Al-Nahrain University handed over the University of Cagliari's copies of the MoU to Dr. Achenza. Following the formal proceedings, the Dean of the College of Engineering accompanied the Italian delegation on a tour of the college's facilities, showcasing its scientific capabilities and exploring potential collaboration opportunities in line with the broad and diverse terms of the agreement.

As part of the visit, a scientific symposium on earthen architecture construction techniques was held at the College of Engineering. The event was attended by the Dean of the College of Engineering, the Head of the Department of Architecture, faculty members, and students. The symposium featured two expert lectures on the principles and techniques of earth construction and contemporary practices in earthen architecture. These lectures were delivered by Jean-Marie Le Tiec and Miguel Fernández Méndes, both renowned consultants in earthen architecture and members of the CRAterre International Center for Earthen Architecture, who accompanied the Italian delegation on their visit