The University of Duhok and the University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca in Romania have taken a major step towards boosting international academic cooperation by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during a virtual meeting. This agreement marks an important milestone in strengthening the relationship between the two institutions, with a focus on enhancing research, academic exchanges, and cultural understanding.

The virtual signing ceremony was attended by key representatives from both universities. Dr. Dawood Sulaiman Atrushi, President of the University of Duhok, Dr. Nazar Ameen Mohammed, Director of International Relations, and Dr. Jaladat M. Saleh, a professor at the College of Science, joined the event. The Romanian delegation included Dr. Cornel Catoi, Rector of the University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, and Marian Taulescu, Vice President for International Relations.

Both university leaders expressed their excitement about the new partnership. Dr. Dawood Atrushi of the University of Duhok stressed how important such collaborations are for improving educational standards and research. Dr. Catoi of the Romanian university highlighted the mutual benefits this partnership will bring to both institutions.

The MoU outlines plans for joint research projects, exchange programs for faculty and students, and other academic collaborations. This partnership is expected to promote innovation and foster deeper cultural connections between the Kurdistan Region and Romania, benefiting the global academic community as a whole.

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, University of Sharjah and University of Khorfakkan in UAE, 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, November 6, 2024

Fatima Mahmood

Photos: Hussein Titimy