The guiding principle is that the students will receive an education
and qualification that meets high internationally recognised
standards. That is why all of the courses will be validated by
Bradford University in the UK. Bradford University will monitor the
curricula, the quality of teaching and the process of examination.
Arrangements are also being made for Bradford University to accredit
the University of Kurdistan’s degrees. We will very soon sign a
memorandum of understanding and cooperation with Bradford, leading
to a contract for collaboration.
Q: Why was English chosen as the language of instruction for
all of the degrees?
Vali: We chose English for two
reasons. First, English is the universal language of the modern
social, political sciences as well as economics, management and
business studies, and information technology. At present throughout
the world at least 70 percent of texts in these subjects are
published in English. Kurdish, and for that matter Arabic, Persian
and Turkish, though highly developed literary languages, are not the
language of modern social sciences. Those who teach social sciences
in these languages would testify to this fact.
Secondly, the degree courses will be validated by Bradford
University - a British university. There could be no grounds for
academic collaboration if we do not have a common language.
Q: Who can apply to study at the University of Kurdistan? How
many students will you accept in your first year, which starts in
September 2006?
Vali: Students of any gender,
age, religion and ethnicity can apply to study at the University of
Kurdistan - Hawler. Students will be accepted on the basis of their
academic ability, knowledge and personal motivation. They have to
satisfy the academic criteria for entry - that is the fundamental
requirement.
The university will accept applicants mainly from the Kurdistan
Region. Although the university is located in Erbil, it is by no
means only for Kurds from Erbil. Students from other cities in the
Kurdistan Region are equally eligible to apply. Kurdish students
from Suleimaniah, Koya, Kirkuk, Dahok, Rawandoz and Erbil have equal
rights to study in this university. The university professes to a
Kurdistani ethos in its Constitution. It is therefore opposed to and
defies political or geographical regionalism in Kurdistan.
We will admit 400 students in September 2006. From the 400 places,
we will accept perhaps around 80 Kurdish students from neighbouring
countries. A number of non-Kurdish students from other parts of Iraq
will also be admitted in accordance with the rules governing the
federal administration in Iraq. All applicants have to fulfil the
selection criteria for entry.
Q: What is the selection procedure?
Vali: Applicants have to fulfil
three conditions to be accepted at the University of Kurdistan.
First, they should have completed secondary school with a grade of
at least 75% in the Baccalaureat. Then they have to sit a written
English exam set by Bradford University, our validating and
accrediting university. Finally, if they pass the written exam, they
will attend an oral interview to assess their academic ability and
motivation.
Q: What degrees do you offer and how long are the courses?
Vali: Initially the university
will be small, concentrating on economics and political and social
sciences. To be precise, we will offer degrees in six academic
departments: politics and international relations; sociology and
social work; economics and finance; management and business studies;
information technology; and modern history.
If after the first two years the scheme is successful, we may expand
the degrees offered to humanities and exact sciences as well. We
will also offer Masters degrees in these subjects. Masters
programmes are scheduled to start in September 2007. We are planning
to offer doctoral programmes at the same time as the Masters
programmes.
All undergraduate courses take four years: a foundation year plus
the degree course for three years. The first year is a foundation
course in English, information technology and a number of
introductory social science courses shared by all disciplines. The
aim of the foundation course is to prepare students for the rigours
of a university degree programme in English. At the end of the first
year, if students pass all the exams, including and specially the
English test, they will be admitted to their preferred degree course
for the following three years.
Q: Where is the University of Kurdistan located?
Vali: A very large plot of land
in the vicinity of Erbil has been allocated for the campus, but it
will take three or more years to build the facilities. For now, the
university will be housed in a temporary building, which is being
erected near the Erbil International Hotel and should be completed
by the end of June 2006.
Q: Is there accommodation for students?
Vali: For the academic year
2006-2007, the university will rent accommodation in Erbil for staff
and the students coming from outside the capital. Students who are
from Erbil will live with their families. In the long run however
the students will be accommodated in halls of residence on the
campus.
Q: Who is on the academic staff of the University of
Kurdistan?
Vali: Only native English
speakers and fully qualified teachers of English as a foreign
language will teach English in the foundation year. English language
teaching will be managed as a distinct department. The lecturers and
professors for the degree programmes are mainly from abroad; Western
or Kurdish academics teaching in Western universities, some young
academics but mostly established and experienced staff with a good
track record in teaching, research and publication.
Q: How does the University of Kurdistan fit into the Region’s
education system?
Vali: It is funded by the
Kurdistan Regional Government and like the other universities in
Kurdistan, it offers free education. However, the university is
autonomous in terms of its administration and academic arrangements
including the choice of curricula, provision of teaching, conduct of
exams and method of assessment and degrees. It takes into
consideration the rules and regulations of the KRG’s Ministry of
Higher Education, but only with regard to the general framework for
the administration of university education. It is otherwise
autonomous and does not fall under its jurisdiction on the matters
stated above.
Q: In your view, why is the University of Kurdistan important
to the Region?
Vali: The Kurdistan Region needs
a strong and cohesive modern intelligentsia that is scientific,
technical and rational. It needs educated cadres, civil servants and
entrepreneurs who will contribute to Kurdistan at a critical time in
its development.
Description of the University of Kurdistan - Hawler
The University of Kurdistan Hawler is a new initiative in the
federal region of Kurdistan in Iraq, funded by the Regional
Government of Kurdistan. It is an independent public institution,
and it will maintain this independence as an indispensable condition
of teaching, learning and research. Initially it will offer degrees
in Economics and Finance, Management and Business Studies, Politics
and International Relations, Sociology and Social Work, Modern
History and Information technology, but in the coming years it will
expand to teach humanities and natural sciences as well. The medium
of instruction and research is English.
Mission statement
The University is committed to excellence in teaching and research.
It will offer a free education at undergraduate and postgraduate
level to students from all over Kurdistan. It is dedicated to
inclusivity, equality and the highest standards of integrity in
public life. It will have a central role in the renovation and
renaissance of Kurdish society and culture in Iraq.
Aims
The University’s primary aim is the furthering of knowledge in the
service of the people of the region. It will do this through:
1. Encouraging excellence in teaching and research
The University will be a hub of intellectual and cultural activity
in the region and beyond.
It will encourage and support research and teaching of the highest
academic standard among its staff.
Through its dedicated research centres, it will generate research
that will advance knowledge and inform policy and decision-making.
It will establish educational, teaching and research links with
other universities in the region and internationally.
2. Contributing to social and political development
The University will play an active part in the development of a
vibrant civil society and public sphere.
It will work to enhance public awareness of civic and democratic
rights and principles, and to address the specific social and
cultural problems of a war-torn society.
Its graduates will be equipped with an understanding of modern
scholarship in the social, economic and political sciences and of
the principles of democratic culture, enabling them to assist in the
construction of civil society and democratic governmental
institutions.
It will support the regional government in building and
consolidating modern democratic institutions and processes, to
enhance the federal democratic culture of the new Iraq.
3. Widening access
The University will offer free tuition and maintenance to students
from all over Kurdistan, providing education for all those who
qualify for entry regardless of their social and economic
circumstances.
It is committed to equality of opportunity for all students
irrespective of gender, ethnicity or religion.
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