UOD, July 17, 2026 | University Press Office (UNPO) – The University of Duhok (UOD) celebrated the successful completion of the World in Conversation (WinC) program by a group of its students during a certificate distribution ceremony held at the American Corner, located in the University's Student Center Building.

The World in Conversation (WinC) program is an internationally recognized initiative developed by Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) to foster intercultural dialogue among university students from different countries. Through professionally facilitated online discussions, participants engage in respectful conversations on contemporary global issues, enhancing their intercultural communication, critical thinking, and global citizenship skills.

The WinC program has been implemented at the University of Duhok throughout the 2025–2026 academic year during both the first and second semesters as part of the University's ongoing commitment to internationalization and global academic engagement.

Approximately 30 students from various colleges at the University of Duhok successfully completed the program. In recognition of their active participation and commitment, a certificate distribution ceremony was held to honor their achievements.

The ceremony was attended by Dr. Nabaz Ibraheem Mohammed, Vice President for Student Affairs; Dr. Ramadan Abed Mohammed, Dean of the College of Basic Education; Dr. Nazar Ameen Mohammed, Director of International Relations; Dr. Saaed A. Saeed, Founder and Coordinator of the World in Conversation (WinC) Program at the University of Duhok; Mr. Rebar Saleem Abdullah, Head of the Department of English Language at the College of Basic Education; and Dr. Zirak Yousif Hasan, Director of the American Corner.

The event commenced with welcoming remarks by Dr. Saaed A. Saeed, who introduced the World in Conversation (WinC) program, reviewed the students' achievements throughout the academic year, and highlighted the importance of dialogue in building intercultural understanding. He also encouraged participants to continue developing their communication skills and to motivate other University of Duhok students to join the program during the coming academic year.

In his address, Dr. Nabaz congratulated the students on their successful completion of the program and emphasized the significance of international dialogue initiatives in promoting mutual understanding, cultural exchange, and global citizenship. He was joined by Dr. Ramadan and Dr. Nazar in presenting certificates of participation to the students.

The ceremony concluded with appreciation for all participants and organizers, reaffirming the University of Duhok's commitment to providing meaningful international learning opportunities through its continued collaboration with Penn State University.

The initiative reflects the University of Duhok Strategic Plan (2023–2038) by advancing internationalization, strengthening global academic partnerships, and equipping students with the knowledge, communication skills, and intercultural competencies needed to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world.

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University Press Office, July 17, 2026

Reported by: Fatima Mahmood Ali
Photography: Mohammed A. Tahar

News Keywords: University of Duhok, World in Conversation, WinC, Penn State University, American Corner, Internationalization, Student Engagement, Global Citizenship, Intercultural Dialogue