The first issue of the Research Journal of Maaref University of Applied Sciences (RJMU) represents both a beginning and a declaration of purpose. Published in August 2025, this volume brings together diverse research that reflects the journal’s interdisciplinary spirit and commitment to open access scholarship. The issue features innovative scientific contributions, such as the design of a thermoelectric system for solar energy conversion and the synthesis of novel thiazolidine derivatives with promising biological activity. It also includes thought-provoking studies on structural capital and organizational memory, critical comparative analysis in literature, marketing challenges in Northwest Syria, and predictive models for financial distress. Other contributions explore advanced technologies, including UAV formation control, the transformative role of generative AI in human resource management, the impact of IoT on urban infrastructure, and artificial intelligence applications for sustainability. By combining engineering, natural sciences, social sciences, and the humanities, this inaugural issue embodies RJMU’s mission to foster resilience, innovation, and meaningful global academic dialogue