Tishk International University’s 10th National Innovation Competition in Engineering (NICE2025) was successfully held on Sunday, May 11th, 2025, under the inspiring theme “Targeting Smart Sustainable Innovations.” This annual event brought together students, supervisors, educators, and practitioners from engineering disciplines across universities in Kurdistan and Iraq, all united by a shared vision for smart and sustainable innovation.
Invitations were extended to various universities and institutes throughout the region, fostering collaboration and the exchange of knowledge. Notably, Interior Design Engineering students from TIU’s Erbil and Sulaimani branches, as well as participants from the Educational Institute of Interior Design, took part in this year’s competition, showcasing their creative and forward-thinking projects that bridged design and technology.
Upon arrival, all participants and jury members were directed to registration desks at the university’s main building entrance, where they received badges, lunch cards, event programs, and stand codes. Jury members were then welcomed into the Coordination Hall, where they received evaluation forms and appreciation gift packs, along with a briefing on the project assessment criteria to ensure a fair and transparent evaluation process.
The event officially opened at 10:00 AM with a ceremony attended by the Acting Chair of NICE2025 and the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, who addressed the competition’s objectives, mission, categories, and the number of participating students and projects. He also expressed heartfelt thanks to all organizers, supporters, and participants for their contributions to the success of the event and the broader scientific community.
Following the ribbon-cutting, project evaluations began at 10:30 AM. Students presented their work to the jury, who assessed each project based on originality, scientific methodology, clarity of presentation, technical proficiency, and overall effort. Interior Design students impressed with projects that emphasized sustainable design solutions and innovative approaches to modern spatial challenges.
After the evaluation process and lunch break, jury members submitted their scores using a specially developed mobile application that automatically calculated average scores and resolved ties using a pre-set formula. The competition culminated with a closing ceremony at 5:00 PM in front of the main building, where the top three winners in each of the eight categories—along with international honorees—were announced and awarded certificates and cash prizes in recognition of their outstanding achievements.
NICE2025 stood as a vibrant testament to the creativity, skill, and ambition of the next generation of engineers and designers. The participation of Interior Design students from across branches and institutions added a rich, interdisciplinary dimension to the competition, reinforcing the role of design in shaping sustainable and innovative futures.
Keywords: NICE2025, Engineering Competition, Innovation, Sustainable Design
