Historical Background
The Department of Artificial Intelligence at Catholic University-Erbil (CUE) was established in 2025 to support the university’s commitment to transformative education and its vision for international academic recognition. The department aims to address the emerging phenomenon of artificial intelligence by delivering rigorous, structured education through which students can gain the knowledge, skills, and competencies needed to meet the demands of the fast-changing modern world. This education empowers the students with the necessary technical expertise, advanced skills, and ethical competencies to lead innovation in the data-driven, fast-changing modern world.
The inaugural fall semester of 2025 marked the commencement of the department, which launched with an initial cohort of 22 students enrolled in the undergraduate program. In preparation for the department launch, several key actions were completed: specialized faculty were hired, class schedules were created, and course materials were prepared. Initial foundational elements of the curriculum were provided in collaboration with the Computer Science and Information Technology Department, which shared both instructional materials and teaching faculty resources. In addition, an internal qualified faculty was promoted to the position of Acting Head of Department to ensure the effective management of the day-to-day operations.
The Department of Artificial Intelligence utilizes the facilities allocated to the Department of Computer Science and Information Technology, which consist of four large labs that can accommodate up to 40 students. These labs are furnished with modern computers, laptops, and Arduino devices, which are necessary to operate the smart gadgets. There are numerous rooms designated for the Department’s students, each with space for up to fifty people and furnished with local computers and smart data displays. There is a section of the main library devoted to the department, which has 10,000 titles of soft copy books and over 500 titles of hard copy books.
Mission
The Department provides students with a strong foundation in the theoretical, mathematical, and computational principles of artificial intelligence in order to equip them with the necessary knowledge, skills, and competencies necessary for designing, developing, and implementing intelligent, ethical, and secure solutions for a variety of industries and specialized domains.
Vision
The Department aims to be the leading artificial intelligence program in Kurdistan and Iraq, recognized nationally, regionally, and internationally for rigorous academic excellence, solution-driven products, and globally competitive intelligent systems.
Program Learning Objectives
- Design solutions for real-world problems using knowledge, skills, and principles of computer science and programming.
- Create intelligent systems driven by algorithms designed to understand and solve complex computational problems to meet business, organizational, and technology requirements.
- Develop programs that can efficiently and effectively increase productivity, reduce workload, and accelerate human-directed outcomes for various industries.
- Analyze, compare, and apply modern AI approaches, algorithms, and models such as machine learning, deep learning, and natural learning processing across a variety of industrial contexts.
- Analyze and assess a complex computing problem and apply principles of computing, mathematics, and AI to identify appropriate computing models and create effective solutions.
- Analyze large and complex datasets in multiple formats, including cleaning, extracting, combining, sorting, and organizing data in meaningful ways.
- Apply professional ethics, norms, and practices of computing science to make informed decisions about AI development and use.
- Develop effective communication skills appropriate for the technical community and the society at large concerning AI activities, using technical reports, documentation, and presentations.
Student Learning Opportunities
Students at the AI Department will have a number of learning opportunities that will facilitate their skills development and knowledge deepening through experiential learning. These opportunities will include internships in relevant industries, a technology symposium day, and academic field trips.
In collaboration with Asiacell AI, students will be able to join CS and IT students during their 3rd stage year to participate in a professional internship program. This internship will provide the students with hands-on experience in collaboration with local companies. Students will be able to apply their knowledge in real-world settings, thus developing skills in areas such as software development, systems analysis, and IT support. Over the course of several weeks, they will work with industry professionals to gain practical expertise. Ultimately, this experience will not only facilitate students’ development of technical skills but also enhance their employability and preparedness for future careers in the tech industry.
In the past, students participated in the Asiacell Event organized to recognize their contributions and provided them with networking opportunities with professionals in their field. When this event is organized again, AI students will have the chance to participate.
Moreover, AI students will join the CS and IT Department students to take the lead in organizing and executing the IT Day Symposium, a student-run event featuring workshops, tech talks, and networking sessions. Students will have the opportunity to showcase their innovative projects and interact with industry experts, demonstrating both their technical knowledge and event management capabilities. Finally, AI students will participate in the annual academic field trip, which the department will organize alongside the CS and IT departments to visit their counterparts in one of the universities in Kurdistan, where students meet and interact with their counterparts, engage in academic activities, participate in seminars, and share ideas and experiences across educational institutions.
Curricula
| First Term | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | M Code | Module Title | ECTS |
| 1 | AI1101 | Programming Fundamentals | 6.00 |
| 2 | AI1102 | Calculus | 4.00 |
| 3 | AI1103 | Logic Design | 6.00 |
| 4 | AI1104 | Kurdish Language | 4.00 |
| 5 | AI1105 | Computer Skills | 5.00 |
| 6 | AI1106 | General English | 5.00 |
| Total: 30.00 | |||
| Second Term | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | M Code | Module Title | ECTS |
| 1 | AI1201 | Procedural Programming | 6.00 |
| 2 | AI1202 | Complex Analysis, Probability and Statistical Methods | 5.00 |
| 3 | AI1203 | Discrete Structures | 5.00 |
| 4 | AI1204 | IT Essentials | 5.00 |
| 5 | AI1205 | Academic Debate | 4.00 |
| 6 | AI1206 | Technical English | 5.00 |
| Total: 30.00 | |||
| First Term | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | M Code | Module Title | ECTS |
| 1 | AI2301 | Object-Oriented Programming | 6.00 |
| 2 | AI2302 | Data Structure and Algorithms | 5.00 |
| 3 | AI2303 | Numerical Analysis | 5.00 |
| 4 | AI2304 | Database Design I | 5.00 |
| 5 | AI2305 | Communications Skills | 5.00 |
| 6 | AI2306 | Human Values and Ethics | 4.00 |
| Total: 30.00 | |||
| Second Term | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | M Code | Module Title | ECTS |
| 1 | AI2401 | Visual Programming | 6.00 |
| 2 | AI2402 | Principles of Artificial Intelligence | 4.00 |
| 3 | AI2403 | Automata Theory | 4.00 |
| 4 | AI2404 | Data Communication and Computer Networks | 6.00 |
| 5 | AI2405 | Database Design II | 5.00 |
| 6 | AI2406 | Professional Writing | 5.00 |
| Total: 30.00 | |||
| First Term | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | M Code | Module Title | ECTS |
| 1 | AI3501 | Data Mining and Pattern Recognition | 6.00 |
| 2 | AI3502 | Image Processing | 6.00 |
| 3 | AI3503 | Principles of Data Science | 4.00 |
| 4 | AI3504 | Compiler Design | 5.00 |
| 5 | AI3505 | Algorithm Optimization | 4.00 |
| 6 | AI3506 | Operating Systems | 5.00 |
| Total: 30.00 | |||
| Second Term | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | M Code | Module Title | ECTS |
| 1 | AI3601 | Machine Learning | 5.00 |
| 2 | AI3602 | Generative AI | 5.00 |
| 3 | AI3603 | Artificial Neural Networks | 5.00 |
| 4 | AI3604 | Web Development | 5.00 |
| 5 | AI3605 | Research Methodology | 5.00 |
| 6 | AI3606 | Elective | 5.00 |
| Total: 30.00 | |||
| First Term | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | M Code | Module Title | ECTS |
| 1 | AI4701 | Deep Learning | 6.00 |
| 2 | AI4702 | Introduction to Robotics | 5.00 |
| 3 | AI4703 | Computer Vision | 5.00 |
| 4 | AI4704 | AI for Cyber Security | 4.00 |
| 5 | AI3505 | Mobile Application Security | 5.00 |
| 6 | AI4706 | Elective | 5.00 |
| Total: 30.00 | |||
| Second Term | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | M Code | Module Title | ECTS |
| 1 | AI4801 | Natural Language Processing | 5.00 |
| 2 | AI4802 | Principle of Robot Autonomy | 5.00 |
| 3 | AI4803 | Deep Generative Models | 5.00 |
| 4 | AI4804 | Elective | 5.00 |
| 5 | AI4805 | Graduation Project | 10.00 |
| Total: 30.00 | |||
Class Schedule
Access the official weekly timetable for the AI Department at CUE. Please download the PDF below to view detailed information about courses, lecture halls, and session timings.