UOD | July 12, 2026 | University Press Office (UNPO) –
The American Corner at the University of Duhok (UOD), organized a high-level workshop and panel discussion entitled "From Exchange to Impact: Building Bridges Between the United States and Kurdistan", commemorating the 250th Anniversary of the Independence of the United States of America. The event highlighted the transformative impact of educational exchange programs in developing future leaders and strengthening academic and cultural ties between the United States and the Kurdistan Region.

The event was attended by Dr. Zirak Yousif Hasan, Director of American Corner Duhok; Mr. Reving Mzouri, Public Affairs Advisor and representative of the U.S. Consulate General in Erbil; Mr. Ari Ahmed, Director of Institutional Relations at the American University of Kurdistan (AUK); alongside academics, alumni of U.S. exchange programs, NGO representatives, university staff, and undergraduate and postgraduate students from several universities.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Zirak emphasized the American Corner's mission of promoting educational and cultural exchange, empowering young people through leadership and learning opportunities, and fostering long-term people-to-people relations between the United States and the Kurdistan Region. The event featured two panel discussions focusing on the impact of flagship U.S. exchange initiatives. The first panel explored the Global Solutions Sustainability Challenge (GSSC) program, where Dr. Sarwan Hasan from Soran University and Dr. Firas Mahmoud Al-Faqi from Duhok Polytechnic University discussed how international academic exchange enhances innovation, sustainability, and global collaboration in higher education.

The second panel highlighted the Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program (IYLEP) through the experiences of alumni Lava Khalid Mohammed (IYLEP 2017) and Zagros Mukhtar, who shared how participation in the program strengthened their leadership capacities, broadened their global perspectives, and inspired continued engagement in community service and civic initiatives. The discussions were moderated by Eng. Hawar Mesoud, President of Engineers Without Borders Iraq (EWB Iraq) and a U.S. exchange program alumnus.

The program concluded with an interactive networking session, enabling participants to exchange ideas, establish new professional connections, and learn more about available U.S. educational opportunities and application pathways. The event reaffirmed the University of Duhok's commitment to advancing internationalization, student leadership, and global academic engagement, while supporting the objectives of the UOD Strategic Plan (2023–2038) through partnerships that expand international mobility, intercultural dialogue, and youth empowerment.

Alignment with UOD Strategic Plan (2023–2038)

This initiative directly supports the University of Duhok's strategic priorities by:

• Expanding international academic partnerships and educational mobility.
• Developing student leadership and global competencies.
• Strengthening collaboration with international diplomatic and educational institutions.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE MEDIA COVERAGE FOR THIS EVENT

University Press Office (UNPO), July 12, 2026
Reported by: Nibar Haji Hussein, Fatima Mahmood Ali
Photography: Mohammed A. Tahar

The News Keywords

• American Corner Duhok
• University of Duhok Internationalization
• U.S. Exchange Programs
• Student Leadership and Global Engagement
• U.S.–Kurdistan Educational Partnerships