Following an official request from Dr. Muzahim Qasim Al-Khayat, Chairman of the Higher Education Committee of the Iraqi Parliament, Dr. Dawood Sulaiman Atrushi, the president of the University of Duhok, participated in a special workshop on Thursday, March 7, 2024, to discuss the draft private education bill prepared by the committee. The meeting, organized by the Higher Education Committee of the Iraqi Parliament, included presidents of private universities in Iraq, representatives of professional unions, as well as several advisors and directors general from the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in Iraq. Additionally, Kurdistan's the Deputy of Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of the Kurdistan Regional Government, along with two presidents of private universities from the Kurdistan Region, were also in attendance.

The opening remarks by the head of the Higher Education Committee underscored the pivotal importance of examining the University of Duhok's pioneering approach in halting evening classes. With the University of Duhok's standing as the sole public college in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, its experience carries significant weight in shaping the educational landscape.

Dr. Dawood Sulaiman Atrushi, as the esteemed president of the University of Duhok, navigated through crucial issues before delving into the UOD’s successful cessation of evening classes. Highlighting a critical gap in the regulations governing private universities, he emphasized the urgent need for legal provisions ensuring the quality of education and research—a foundational element currently absent from the existing bill.

Furthermore, the president of UOD advocated for the removal of joint study programs, which blend morning and evening classes, citing the existing law's allowance for such arrangements in private universities. This insightful discussion paved the way for a deeper exploration of the negative impacts of evening education and the strategic steps taken by the University of Duhok to address them.

The interactive exchange that followed saw participants engaging in robust dialogue, posing pertinent questions, and sharing valuable insights. In a significant gesture, the Higher Education Committee extended an invitation to visit the University of Duhok, recognizing the value of firsthand experience in understanding the institution's methodologies and practices.

This milestone marks a commendable achievement for the University of Duhok, drawing the attention of both the Iraqi government and parliament to draw inspiration from its innovative approaches in shaping higher education policies. Notably, this signifies a historic moment wherein the Iraqi House of Representatives has embraced collaboration with a university from the Kurdistan Region in crafting legislation—a testament to the inclusive and innovative approach driving educational reforms.

THE UNIVERSITY OF DUHOK

The University of Duhok (UOD) is a public university in the city of Duhok city, which is about 150 km northwest of Erbil (Arbil, Hewlér), the capital of Iraq's Kurdistan Region (KRI). The city is situated in a beautiful valley surrounded by high mountains. The university campus is a large green area in the city's west side that provides an exciting view of the city and surrounding nature. UOD was founded in October 1992 with only two colleges to meet the region's growing demand for graduate professionals. Today, the UOD has a 19-college with 67 departments, nearly 24000 students, and over 4000 academic and administrative staff. Students thrive in one of the best regional academic communities, studying in programs such as Agriculture, Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Architecture, Engineering, Humanities, Linguistics, Basic Education, and Economics as well as Spatial Planning. UOD has strong engagement through its International Relations with many Higher Education institutions and centres of excellence worldwide, such as Purdue University, Indiana University (IU), New York University (NYU), The University of Noter Dame (ND), The University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UA), BridgeWater State University in the USA, The University of Warsaw - Poland, The University of Glasgow - Scotland, The University of Twente - The Netherlands, Leipzig University, LLC University, University of Oldenburg, The University of Vechta, Europa-Universität Flensburg, TU Dortmund university, THM Giessen University in Germany, The University of Tuscia, The university of Pavia, Sapienza Università di Roma in Italy, The University of Deusto, The University of Barcelona, The University of Granada (UGR) in Spain, Lund University - Sweden, The University of Sussex in the UK, Tampere University - Finland, and so many more. The University of Duhok is an active member of the International Association of Universities (IAU), The UNIMED, the Mediterranean Universities Union, and The Association of Arab Universities (AARU).

UOD Media; March 10, 2024