The American University of Iraq, Sulaimani (AUIS) successfully launched a free of charge Applied Science and Engineering Summer Program for Skills Development (ASES Program), a six-week, hands-on initiative that engaged talented undergraduate and postgraduate students, along with a limited number of faculty members from universities across the region. The program empowered participants to design and develop working prototypes that addressed real-world challenges facing Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.

ASES provided an immersive, project-based learning experience where individuals gained practical skills through experimenting, building, and problem-solving. Participants had full access to AUIS laboratories and facilities to develop solutions in the fields of engineering and applied sciences.

Each summer, participants selected from a set of challenge-driven, locally relevant topics. Using AUIS campus resources, they collaborated to create practical, low-cost technological solutions. The program concluded with a project showcase, and participants received certificates of completion. All completed prototypes were preserved and displayed as part of AUIS’s legacy of applied innovation.