The Netherlands, December 1, 2025, University Press Office | As part of the University of Duhok’s ongoing efforts to strengthen international academic cooperation and enhance staff competencies in advanced scientific fields, a UOD faculty member has completed a prestigious training program in the Netherlands.

Mr. Bilnd Jalal H. Hambi, a faculty member at the Department of Forestry, College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences (CAES) at the University of Duhok (UOD), has successfully completed the Advanced Geoinformatics Course at the University of Twente (UT), Netherlands. The mobility program, held from April 28 to July 3, 2025, was supported through the Nuffic MENA Fellowship Program, funded by the Dutch Government.

Hosted by the ITC Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation, the program consisted of two core modules: Integrated Geospatial Workflows and Spatio-temporal Analytics and Modeling. The course provided robust training in advanced geospatial data acquisition and information extraction techniques. Mr. Hambi gained extensive experience in designing and applying tools to transform raw geospatial data into reliable, actionable insights—utilizing state-of-the-art analytical methods and modernized geospatial workflows.

In addition to the main curriculum, Mr. Hambi engaged in several specialized ITC workshops focusing on topics such as Large Language Models (LLMs), Research Reproducibility, Docker Systems, and Cloud-Based Geospatial Processing. The program concluded with the awarding of internationally recognized certificates following the successful completion of academic reports and written examinations.

A fruitful Visit

Upon returning to the University of Duhok, Mr. Hambi affirmed his commitment to sharing the expertise acquired abroad through seminars and training activities for UOD staff. In his current role as Deputy Director at the Directorate of Information Services (DOIS), he has already begun integrating these advanced competencies into the university’s ongoing Digital Transformation initiatives, contributing to improved data-driven decision-making and system modernization.

Mr. Hambi expressed deep gratitude to the ITC for providing this distinguished training opportunity, noting that such programs further strengthen academic and scientific collaboration between the Netherlands and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

About UT

The University of Twente (UT) in the Netherlands is a leading institution known for integrating technology, engineering, and social sciences to address global challenges through innovative, interdisciplinary approaches. With world-class research facilities—such as the renowned ITC Faculty, NanoLab, and DesignLab—UT fosters a vibrant environment that empowers students and researchers to develop practical solutions with real societal impact.

Alignment with UOD’s Strategic Plan (2023–2038)

This achievement directly supports the University of Duhok’s strategic priorities, particularly those related to:

• Building staff competencies
  
  
• Promoting international academic cooperation
  
  
• Enhancing digital transformation

Through international engagements such as this program, UOD continues to strengthen its role as a leading institution in modern scientific training and global academic partnerships.

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University Press Office, December 1, 2025
Reported by: Fatima Mahmood Ali, Bilnd Jalal H. Hambi

The News Keywords

• Advanced Geoinformatics Training
  
  
• University of Twente ITC
  
  
• Nuffic MENA Fellowship
  
  
• University of Duhok Digital Transformation
  
  
• Geospatial Science and Analytics