Baghdad, November 10, 2026 | University Press Office (UNPO) — Strengthening academic cooperation and expanding institutional partnerships with Iraqi universities, a delegation from the University of Duhok (UoD) visited Baghdad on October 28–29, 2026, holding a series of meetings with university leaders and academic officials to explore opportunities for joint programmes, scientific research, international projects and collaborative academic activities.

The delegation comprised Dr. Lokman Hadi Hassan, Vice President for Scientific Affairs and Postgraduate Studies; Dr. Ismaeel Ameen Ali, Director of the Bologna Process; and Dr. Juwan Mohammed Mahdi Almofti, International Relations Representative for Iraqi and Arab Universities.

The visit coincided with the Third Iraq Education Conference, held at the University of Baghdad, which brought together academics, specialists and decision-makers to discuss the current state of education and explore future directions for developing higher education in Iraq. The conference highlighted the importance of strengthening cooperation among educational institutions and translating academic discussions and shared experiences into practical initiatives.

During the visit, the UoD delegation held meetings with representatives of several Iraqi universities, focusing on establishing new partnerships and advancing existing agreements. Key discussions included:

• University of Baghdad: A meeting with the University President focused on activating the existing Memorandum of Understanding between the two universities through clear implementation mechanisms, joint academic activities, conferences and collaborative projects.
• University of Anbar: Discussions resulted in an agreement to proceed with preparing a Memorandum of Understanding covering academic cooperation, joint conferences, seminars and scientific activities in areas of mutual interest.
• Al-Mustansiriya University: The delegation discussed initiating formal procedures for a cooperation agreement, with the Directorate of International Relations at UoD to send an official letter to the relevant university authorities.
• University of Technology: Follow-up coordination was discussed to advance communication and explore opportunities for joint academic and research cooperation.

The meeting also explored opportunities to strengthen cooperation between the two universities through joint academic events, including the Sustainable Development Conference and a proposed international conference on federalism.

Research cooperation and international academic publishing were also among the main areas of discussion. The parties explored opportunities to cooperate with reputable scientific journals indexed in Scopus, encourage joint publications and promote collaborative research between academics at the two universities.

Another key focus was the development of international cooperation projects, particularly through the Erasmus+ Programme. Drawing on UoD's experience and established international academic partnerships, the delegation discussed developing joint project proposals with partner universities in line with European funding priorities and call requirements.

Strategic Alignment

The visit supports the University of Duhok's Strategic Plan 2023–2038, particularly its pillars of Pioneering Institution in Higher Education and Meaningful Contributions to Society. By advancing institutional partnerships, joint research, academic publishing and international project development, UoD continues to strengthen the quality and impact of its academic activities while contributing to the development of higher education and research cooperation in Iraq.

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University Press Office, November 10, 2026
Reported by: Fatima Mahmood Ali

News Keywords

• University of Duhok Academic Partnerships
• Third Iraq Education Conference
• Iraqi University Cooperation
• Joint Research and Scientific Publishing
• Erasmus+ International Projects