UOD Students Excel in "World in Conversation" Program
June 7, 2023, 12:09 p.m.

The University of Duhok takes immense pride in announcing the exceptional achievements of its students in the renowned "World in Conversation" program. On May 25, 2023, UOD students were recognized for their remarkable participation in the program during a special event attended by esteemed dignitaries including Dr. Nabaz Ibraheem Mohammed, the Vice President of the University of Duhok, Dr. Ramadhan Abed Mohammed, the Dean of the College of Basic Education, Dr. Saaed A. Saaed, the Head of English Department in the College of Basic Education, and Basim Razzo, the Director of the "World in Conversation" program in Iraq.

Established in 2018, the "World in Conversation" program offers a unique platform for individuals from diverse societies worldwide to engage in dialogues with people from other cultures. The program aims to foster global exchanges of perspectives on social issues, contributing to problem-solving and the betterment of the world.

UOD students initially participated in three text-based conversations as part of the program in November 2022. Recognizing their potential, UOD was subsequently invited to become a main partner, leading to the participation of 38 students from different colleges at UOD in online conversations spanning 21 weeks, starting in November 2023. The students' participation was characterized by their impressive conversational skills, coupled with their proficiency in the English language. The program covered a wide range of topics, including contemporary social problems, cultural diversity, customs, traditions, and the exchange of cultural experiences.

The outstanding performance of UOD students led to a significant opportunity for 11 participants who were selected to attend summer workshops organized by the University of Pennsylvania. These students will be trained to become conversation facilitators in the "World in Conversation" program, enabling them to contribute to future discussions. The selected students hail from various colleges at UOD, including Basic Education, Veterinary Medicine, Humanities, Languages, and Engineering.

Nasreen Ashqi Salim, a student in the College of Basic Education, English Department, shared her experience participating in four conversations, covering topics such as the lack of children as a social problem, social media's impact, food-related issues, and racial and ethnic equality. She expressed how the program allowed participants to interact with young people from foreign societies, expanding their understanding and knowledge. Nasreen highlighted the significance of discussing social problems, shedding light on the importance of food, children, and social media, as well as the existence of ethnic and racial discrimination.

Mania Ali Salih, a student in the College of Basic Education, English Department, emphasized the importance of understanding different viewpoints and opinions from people across countries and continents. Participating in the program helped Mania recognize the similarities and differences among societies and nations, broadening her perspective.

Lava Ahmad Abdulrahim, also from the College of Basic Education, English Department, expressed pride in representing her culture and introducing it to participants from foreign societies. The experience of negotiating with individuals from diverse backgrounds allowed her to expand her knowledge and break out of her comfort zone.

Maryam Slewa Lazar, a student in the College of Basic Education, English Department, acknowledged the impact of effective communication on the success of a generation. She noted how the program enhanced their ability to receive criticism, fostered critical thinking, and facilitated the exchange of new ideas.

Furthermore, students Maryam Saad, Dileen Hemn, Kavok Qais Salih, Ayhan Tarq Abdulrahman, Suaad Adnan Ismail, Roj Yasser Hassan, and Pav Fazel Omar, from various colleges at UOD, shared their experiences and highlighted the program's role in promoting global awareness, expanding their understanding of different cultures, and improving their negotiation and communication skills.

Dr. Saeed Idris Saeed, Head of the English Department in the College of Education, praised the outstanding performance of UOD students in the program. He commended their ability to represent the Kurdish nation and Kurdistan while discussing contemporary social problems and proposing effective solutions. Dr. Saeed also expressed plans to leverage the expertise gained by the 11 students attending the summer workshops to prepare other students for future participation. Furthermore, he proposed the establishment of a dedicated unit to organize internal and external negotiations with regional and international universities.

The University of Duhok proudly celebrates the accomplishments of its students in the "World in Conversation" program, underscoring their commitment to global dialogue, cultural understanding, and problem-solving on a global scale.

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; June 4, 2023

Report: Maher Kestayi

Translation: Mehvan M. Salih