Report: Cybersecurity Departments at Iraqi Universities Jump to 123 in 2026-2027

A report on Saturday showed that the number of cybersecurity departments at Iraqi universities rose from 5 departments when the specialty was introduced in 2022 to 123 departments in the 2026-2027 academic year, distributed across 90 educational institutions nationwide.

The report indicated that the private sector holds 86 departments, about 70% of the total, compared with 37 departments in the public sector, about 30%.

It added that 63 bachelor's departments were established in the 2025-2026 academic year alone, of which 47 were private and 16 public, i.e., more than half of the total departments recorded.

The report showed that Baghdad contains 48 departments, roughly 40% of the total, noting that assessing the adequacy of this distribution requires linking it to population numbers, student enrollment, capacity, and labor market needs in the provinces.

It pointed to a gap between the bachelor's and diploma tracks, with diploma options appearing limited compared with the broader four-year university track.

Regarding women's participation, the report recorded the establishment of two departments reserved for female students, in addition to offering the specialization to them in coeducational departments.

The report stressed that the size and speed of the expansion make the quality and sustainability of education an urgent priority, calling for regular academic monitoring that measures the stability of programs and the adequacy of specialized teaching staff.

It affirmed that the success of the expansion is measured by the ability of departments to produce graduates who possess the skills required in the labor market, noting that some graduates may need additional training and practical experience after graduation to compete for certain entry-level jobs, which highlights the importance of building these skills during study.

The report explained that offering multiple tracks within a single university, with different admission quotas and tuition fees, broadens student recruitment but requires clarification of the educational value each track adds and the specialist skills it provides.

The report defined cybersecurity as a means of protecting software, computers and networks, and a set of measures taken to confront cyberattacks and breaches and the resulting risks.