The University of Duhok become venerated to host a high-profile delegation led by Mr. Florian Hassler, the State Secretary for Political Coordination in Baden-Württemberg, a state inside the Federal Republic of Germany. The esteemed visitors, which included representatives from the Consulate of Federal Germany in Erbil and the head of the renowned German newspaper Schwäbische Zeitung, were welcomed by of the President of the University of Duhok, Dr. Dawood S. Atrushi, at the Institute of Psychotherapy and Psychotraumatology (IPP).

The primary goal of this visit was to gain insights into the collaborative initiatives between IPP and the University of Duhok. Accompanied by Professor Jan Ilhan Kizilhan, the Dean of IPP, the delegation engaged in discussions about the ongoing joint projects, aiming to foster a closer connection with IPP in terms of academic progress, student engagement, and the institute’s services for the local community, IDPs, and refugees.

During the visit, Dr. Bohar Suleiman, a distinguished figure at IPP, led a consultation outlining the Institute's packages and initiatives. She expressed her gratitude for the priceless contributions made by the German government and emphasized the pivotal function IPP performs in addressing mental health problems, specially within the aftermath of the 2014 disaster and the subsequent influx of internally displaced individuals (IDPs) and refugees within the Duhok governorate.

In his assertion, Dr. Dawood Atrushi shed light on the dire mental health demanding situations confronted by the location, underscoring the importance of worldwide collaborations in addressing those issues. He extended his heartfelt appreciation for the unwavering support prolonged by the German government in these essential efforts.

In his speech, Mr. Florian Hassler acknowledged the important role that IPP and Sinjar Clinic played in the community. Dr. Kizilhan emphasized the importance of IPP programs and their positive impact on local communities.

Ibrahim Khalil, IPP representative, gave a detailed presentation that clarified the various programs and projects under the IPP regime. The presentation provided a deeper understanding of IPP’s academic contributions to the university and its outreach programs to benefit the broader community.

The presentations were followed by lively discussions, involving the Secretary of State, UOD leaders, staff and students. Professor Kizilhan expertly moderated the discussion, encouraging a productive dialogue that emphasized a shared commitment to mental health advocacy and collaborative efforts.

The University of Duhok extends its sincere thanks to the Secretary of State, Mr. Florian Hassler, and all the delegates for their visit and continued support. This partnership is an important step in strengthening international partnerships, underscoring our shared commitment to addressing mental health challenges and creating healthier, more resilient communities.

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; October 22, 2023

Photo Credit: Mohammed AbdulKareem