American University of Baghdad Graduates First Class \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ The American University of Baghdad celebrated its first graduating class at a former Saddam Hussein palace, now a symbol of educational transformation. Officials emphasized the university’s commitment to global academic standards and Iraq’s future. Thirty-eight students earned degrees in business, science, and humanities during the historic ceremony.
Quick Looks
- AUB hosts first-ever graduation on former Saddam palace site
- 38 students receive degrees in business, science, and humanities
- University aims to modernize Iraqi higher education with global standards
- Campus was once Saddam’s al-Faw Palace, later U.S. base
- Funded by Iraqi businessman Saadi Saihood, established in 2021
- Ceremony attended by dignitaries, families, and academic leaders
- President Mulnix highlights transformation from war-torn ruins to academic hub
- AUB partners with top global institutions like Vanderbilt and Exeter
- Founder calls it a “symbolic moment” for Iraq’s academic future
- Graduates report private sector job offers and entrepreneurial opportunities
Deep Look
On a campus that once echoed with the power of Saddam Hussein’s regime, the American University of Baghdad (AUB) has now written a dramatically different chapter in Iraqi history. Over the weekend, the university celebrated its first-ever graduation ceremony, a moment that symbolized both personal achievement for its 38 graduates and a national milestone in Iraq’s ongoing efforts to rebuild, reform, and reimagine its education system.
What was once the al-Faw Palace, a grandiose island compound built by Saddam in the 1990s to commemorate a military victory, now houses lecture halls, laboratories, and seminar rooms. And on Saturday, it served as the backdrop for a hopeful scene: young men and women in academic robes, tossing their caps into the air, cheered on by proud families and faculty members.
A New Beginning, Rooted in the Past
AUB’s campus is located on an island in an artificial lake once part of Saddam Hussein’s sprawling palace complex. After the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, the al-Faw Palace was repurposed by American forces as Camp Victory, a key military base during the war. For many Iraqis, this location holds complex memories—of power, conflict, and foreign occupation.
Now, those layers of history have been overlaid with learning, progress, and peace.
“This is more than just a graduation—it’s a message to the world,” said AUB President Dr. Michael Mulnix, addressing graduates and dignitaries at the ceremony. “It’s a reminder that even places once associated with repression and war can be reborn as spaces of freedom, thought, and opportunity.”
From Ruins to a Modern University
Dr. Mulnix, who joined AUB in 2018, spoke emotionally about the transformation he has witnessed over the past seven years.
“When I first arrived, the campus was a shell of what it is today,” he said. “Years of war and neglect had left buildings in decay and infrastructure barely functional. But we believed in the power of education to transform not just institutions, but lives.”
Backed by significant private funding from Iraqi businessman Saadi Saihood, AUB was officially inaugurated in 2021 with a mission to bring world-class, liberal arts education to Iraq. The institution now offers degree programs in business administration, sciences, and the humanities, with an eye toward expanding its academic offerings and regional partnerships.
Saihood, the university’s founder and chairman, called Saturday’s graduation “a symbolic moment that affirms this institution was built to last.”
“We knew it wouldn’t be easy,” he said. “But our graduates are proof that this vision is real. They represent a new generation of Iraqis—educated, resilient, and ready to lead.”
A Class of Pioneers
The Class of 2025 includes 20 male and 18 female graduates—a balance that reflects AUB’s emphasis on gender equity and inclusion. In a country where access to higher education for women remains inconsistent, the sight of nearly half the graduating class being female was not just encouraging, but groundbreaking.
The ceremony was attended by local and national dignitaries, university trustees, and representatives from international partner institutions. Some attendees noted the surreal experience of celebrating intellectual achievement in a space once synonymous with tyranny.
“This is the Iraq I want my children to grow up in,” said one parent. “One that values knowledge over power, and progress over fear.”
Global Partnerships and Private Sector Readiness
AUB has established academic collaborations with globally renowned institutions such as Vanderbilt University, Temple University, Colorado School of Mines, Lawrence Technological University, the University of Exeter, and Sapienza University of Rome. These partnerships ensure that the education students receive in Baghdad is aligned with international academic standards.
“Our students are not just being trained to memorize—they are being taught to think critically, to innovate, and to solve problems,” said Mulnix. “This is what Iraq needs, and this is what the world expects of its future leaders.”
In his remarks, Saihood acknowledged the limited government job market but emphasized the university’s focus on preparing students for roles in the private sector, NGOs, and entrepreneurial ventures. “Our graduates are adaptable,” he said. “They are equipped to lead, not just follow.”
Graduates Speak: Optimism with Realism
Among the graduating class was Mohammed Baqir, a 22-year-old from Najaf, who earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration. He was candid about the challenges that lie ahead.
“The future in Iraq is not easy,” he said. “All of us graduates have concerns—about jobs, about safety, about staying here. But what makes AUB different is that we’ve already had interviews, job offers, and opportunities presented through the university’s networks.”
Baqir said he paid ten million Iraqi dinars, roughly $7,600, for his education. “It was a big investment for my family. But I know now it was worth it,” he said. “I feel prepared, and I feel proud.”
A Response to Brain Drain
Despite signs of economic and political recovery, Iraq continues to struggle with brain drain—the emigration of talented, educated youth in search of opportunity and stability abroad. AUB aims to counter this trend by offering students a reason to stay.
“We’re not just giving students a diploma,” said Mulnix. “We’re giving them reasons to believe in Iraq again.”
In this sense, the graduation was more than a ceremony. It was an act of national renewal, a sign that Iraq can foster homegrown talent and create institutions that rival their Western counterparts.
The Future of AUB—and Iraq
Looking ahead, AUB plans to expand enrollment, enhance its research capabilities, and become a regional academic hub that attracts students not only from Iraq but also from neighboring countries.
“We want to be a bridge,” said Saihood, “between Iraq and the global academic community, between the past and the future, between conflict and cooperation.”
As Iraq continues its path of reconstruction, AUB’s first graduation is both a symbol and a signal—of what’s possible when vision, education, and resilience intersect.
From a dictator’s palace to a stage of dreams, the American University of Baghdad has become a beacon of hope for a nation striving to rewrite its story.
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