The president of Kurdistan Mr. Masoud Barzani, welcomed the President of the International Association of Universities (IAU) and the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the "Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia" Prof. Dzulkifli Abdul Razak The President of the University of Duhok Prof. Mosleh Duhoky. 

During the meeting, the President of the Union of universities in the world for happiness to visit the Kurdistan and his meeting with President Barzani, hailed the development and stability available in the region and the role of President Barzani in stabilizing and providing elements of security for the people of Kurdistan although there are significant challenges facing the region.

He also explain to President Barzani a briefed on the activities of the Union, and stressed that the global Universities Union supports the people of Kurdistan, and is scheduled to be the region a member of this union. 

In contrast, President Barzani welcomed the President of the Union of universities in the world, and praised the role and activities of the Union and welcomed their decision about the membership in the Union of Kurdistan Region universities of the world and wished them Muwafaqiya.

It is worth to say that, this productive visit is an outcome of Prof. Duhoky participation in the IAU conference in Italy last year. This is the very first visit by IAU president to Kurdistan and Iraq. The guest met with UoD Council and discussed with them the future cooperation with IAU with respect to the involvement of UoD in IAU programs. Prof. Abdul Razak was impressed by the UoD infrastructure and human resources. He mentioned that he will suggest having the next IAU conference at the University of Duhok campus. He also expressed his view that the UoD can play an important role with the IAU community and can contribute positively to the future activates.

It is worth mentioning that the IAU is a UNESCO affiliated organization that has a membership in over 120 countries all over the world. Its mission to  bring together higher education institutions the world over aiming  to build a global platform for exchange on key topics of higher education and emerging issues, and also analyze , monitor the trend of higher education from comparative and international perspectives .