In consistency with its scientific and applied orientation, the University of Technology signed a memorandum of understanding with Al-Aswar Company (a leading company in the field of networks, fiber-optic cable and energy solutions) to upgrade the infrastructure of the university by setting up three laboratories, one of which is the networks lab in the Compute Engineering Department.

Under the patronage of the University President (Prof. Dr. Emad H. Al-Husseini) and the supervision of Higher Education and Scientific Research Ministry – studies, planning and follow-up department, the university proceeded the inauguration of the networks laboratory, on Thursday,14-11-2019.

The inauguration was attended by the university president representative (Prof. Dr. Ibrahim Jawad Kadhem), the University Scientific Affairs Deputy (Prof. Dr. Jawad Kadhm Ali), the University Administrative Affairs Deputy (Asst. Prof. Dr. Abdullah Saadoun Salman), the higher education and research minister representative (the Studies, Planning and Follow-up Department General Director Dr. Ihab Naji Abbas), al-aswar company representative (Eng. Firas Qasim), number of departments heads, faculty members, and staff of the university.

The responsible of the Computer Engineering Department management, Scientific Affairs Deputy (Asst. Prof. Dr. Hassan Jalil Hassan), welcomed the honored guests and commenced the inauguration with the national anthem.

Then, the university president representative said in his speech, “This good and unique initiative works to provide the industry with highly skilled engineers that contribute to the development and economy sustainability in the country. Furthermore, it will prepare students to join the labor market and maintain the scientific and academic development”.

After that, the higher education and scientific research minister representative said in his speech, “This initiative is successful in providing after graduation services like in cooperation with the Career Development Unit to enable them to have an employment potental, in addition this is a significant contribution from the ministry and local companies interested in community service”.

Later, al-aswar company representative (Eng. Firas Qasim) mentioned in his speech “in the companies’ efforts to support the higher education sector by providing support through training and development to students and in cooperation with the university, Al-Aswar Company constructed a fully equipped with the latest technology network lab in the Computer Engineering Department as a part of training requirements with a modern internationally recognized curriculum for graduate and unemployed students to enable them obtaining experience and efficiency that qualifies them to engage in the labor market”.

At the end, The Administrative Affairs Deputy (Dr. Ahmed Saad Karim) gave an introductory presentation in the laboratory, stating that this lab is a qualitative shift for students to transfer theoretical experience to the practical field and how they can benefit from training in this laboratory as it uses OSI layer two networking devices.

Three academic staff members from the University of Technology-Iraq, Prof. Dr. Ahmed S. Abdul-Amir from the Computer Engineering Department, Asst. Prof. Dr. Haider Abd Dhahed from the Mechanical Engineering Department, and Asst. Lect. Israa Abbas Jabr from the of Control and Systems Engineering Department published the research paper “A Neural Networks based Predictive Voltage-Tracking Controller Design for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Model” in the Journal of Engineering.

This work proposed a new development of predictive voltage-tracking control algorithm for the proton exchange membrane fuel cell model (PEMFCs) using neural network technique based on-line auto-tuning intelligent algorithm. The aim of proposed robust feedback nonlinear neural predictive voltage controller is to find precisely and quickly the optimal hydrogen partial pressure action in order to control the stack terminal voltage of the (PEMFC) model for N-step ahead prediction.