ERBIL, IRAQ — On April 28 and 29, 2026, Tishk International University (TIU) and Koya University, sponsored by NIM Automotive Company official Kia representative, successfully hosted the 5th International Conference on Architecture and Interior Design (ICAD 2026). This year’s conference was centered on the vital theme of “Change and Resilience in the 21st Century,” providing a timely platform for scholars and practitioners to address the evolving challenges of the modern built environment.
The event opened with an esteemed gathering of representatives from various government institutions, the Kurdistan Engineering Syndicate, and the private sector. This diverse assembly, which included distinguished academics and passionate students, fostered a unique environment for professional networking and the exchange of visionary ideas between the industry’s current leaders and its future pioneers.
The academic rigor of the conference was reflected in the high quality of research presented. From 38 submitted papers, a final selection of 27 papers—including several international contributions—was presented during the event. These works represented the research efforts of scholars from more than eight different local and international universities, ensuring a broad and inclusive discourse on architecture and design.
The program was meticulously structured into 5 comprehensive sessions organized across 4 parallel tracks, allowing for specialized deep dives into various facets of the industry. Adding to the depth of the discussions were four keynote speakers, featuring a balanced perspective from two local and two international experts, who shared their insights on global trends and regional applications.
The conference concluded with two pivotal panel discussions that bridged the gap between theory and practice. The first panel examined the role of the Kurdistan Engineering Syndicate in aligning academic curricula with professional standards, while the second focused on the cutting-edge integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in architecture education. Through these sessions, ICAD 2026 successfully highlighted the resilience of the architectural community and its readiness to embrace the technological and professional changes of the 21st century.
