UOD – November 26, 2025 | University Press Office (UNPO) – The University of Duhok (UOD), Department of Spatial Planning at College of City and Regional Planning, in partnership with TU Dortmund University, successfully concluded its three-year Ta’ziz Project with a two-day Final Symposium held on November 17–18, 2025, at the College of City and Regional Planning. The project, titled “Strengthening Participatory Planning and Local Community Development in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq” is a joint project between the College of City and Regional Planning, UOD and TU Dortmund University, sponsored by DAAD, which started on March 1, 2022 and is planned to continue until December 31, 2025. It has worked with governmental and non-governmental organizations across the region to promote inclusive, community-driven planning practices.

Over the past years, the project delivered a wide range of activities, including information sessions, training workshops, and summer schools, aimed at enhancing participatory planning capacities among public officials, development practitioners, and local leaders in both urban and rural areas of Kurdistan.

Participatory Planning Achievements (Two-Day Symposium Highlights)

• The Final Symposium gathered participants, academics, government officials, NGOs, and experts in participatory development to review project achievements and discuss the expanding role of public participation in local governance.
  
  
• The opening session presented key project outcomes, followed by thematic presentations showcasing successful participation initiatives in the Kurdistan Region.
  
  
• Students from the Department of Spatial Planning displayed posters demonstrating their work across various courses, covering land use planning, heritage protection, revitalization of historical areas, health, education, tourism, and local agricultural development.
  
  
• The second day included a panel discussion on the current state of participation in the region and ways to embed participatory approaches in development projects.
  
  
• The symposium concluded with awarding joint certificates to Spatial Planning graduates from the 2023, 2024, and 2025 cohorts.
  
  

Inauguration of the Center for Participatory Planning and Development

A major milestone of the symposium was the official work started for the inauguration of the new Center for Participatory Planning and Development (CPPD) at the Department of Spatial Planning, College of City and Regional Planning. The Center, designed as a long-term outcome of the Ta’ziz Project, will continue advancing participatory planning through training programs, applied research, stakeholder engagement, and policy consultation.

During the event, the Center’s vision, mission, and future activities were introduced, followed by the appointment of its Advisory Board. Attendees were invited to collaborate with the center, provide feedback, and explore opportunities for partnership in upcoming initiatives.

The symposium was attended by senior officials, academic staff, practitioners, and representatives of local and regional institutions. The event was jointly led by Dr. Basheer Ahmed Mohammed Saeed, Head of the Department of Spatial Planning at UOD, and Dr. Johannes Lückenkötter, Project Coordinator from TU Dortmund University. Among attendees were also a delegation from TU Dortmund featuring Dr. Dietwald Gruehn, Dean of the Department of Spatial Planning, TU Dortmund University, and Dr. Hasan Sinemilioglu, former program coordinator between the UOD and TUD.

Alignment with UOD’s Strategic Vision

The symposium—and the broader Ta’ziz Project—supports the University of Duhok’s Strategic Plan (2023–2038), emphasizing

• community engagement
• capacity development
• international academic cooperation

By promoting public participation and interdisciplinary collaboration, UOD continues to strengthen its role as a regional leader in sustainable development, applied research, and social responsibility.

For more information on UOD’s strategic initiatives and upcoming projects, visit: UOD Highlights

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE MEDIA COVERAGE FOR THIS EVENT

University Press Office – November 26, 2025
Reported by: Fatima Mahmood Ali, Aland Kamal Othman
Photography by: Aland Kamal Othman, Hozan Fawzi Mohammed Saleem

The News Keywords

• Participatory Planning
• Public Participation
• TU Dortmund
• DAAD Projects in Iraq
• Sustainable Development Kurdistan Region
• Stakeholder Engagement