[Seminar] Bridging Academia and Industry: ITE Programs, Research, and Collaboration Horizons
When: Thursday 18 June 2026 – 14.30
Where: Room A1.3 – A. Turing Building (Coppito)
Summary:
This seminar presents an overview of the Faculty of Information Technology Engineering at Damascus University — its academic structure, Master’s and PhD programs, and active research directions. It highlights the Faculty’s commitment to graduate employability through the Placement and Training Center, and introduces the newly established DIGIT Center, a dedicated innovation hub linking youth with the labor market as employees, freelancers, and startup entrepreneurs — through training, applied projects, and partnerships with industry and investors.
The seminar also examines how the rapid advancement of AI tools is reshaping both higher education and the job landscape for IT graduates, posing critical challenges and opening new opportunities. The session concludes with a structured discussion of concrete collaboration proposals between Damascus University and the University of L’Aquila, covering experience sharing, joint research, student and faculty exchange, co-supervised theses, and beyond.
Short Bio:
Dr. Mohammad Saeed AbouTrab is a software engineering specialist and associate professor at the Faculty of Information Technology Engineering, Damascus University. He earned his PhD from Brunel University London and has held several academic leadership roles, including Head of the Software Engineering and Information Systems Department and Deputy Dean for Scientific Affairs.
Since 2025, he has coordinated the DIGIT Innovation Centre, a major initiative supporting Syrian youth’s engagement in the digital economy. He is also the founder and head of the ITE Training and Placement Centre, where he has advanced specialized training, internships, and employment pathways for IT students.
Dr. AbouTrab has supervised several Master’s and PhD theses and contributed to Erasmus+ collaborations that strengthen academic partnerships across Europe and the region. He has been an active consultant in software project management, quality management, and digital innovation. He has also led and supported multiple entrepreneurship programs in cooperation with UNDP, including Startup Marathon, JumpStart, and the Hult Prize.
