UOD, June 16, 2025 — University Press Office (UNPO) | As part of its continuous commitment to academic excellence and alignment with international standards, the University of Duhok (UOD) has intensified efforts to obtain academic accreditation from the Kurdistan Accrediting Association for Education (KAAE). A major meeting was held on June 16, 2025, at UOD’s Convention Center, chaired by the University President, Dr. Dawood Sulaiman Atrushi, with participation from key university units and leadership teams.

Accreditation has been identified as a top institutional priority, forming a core pillar of UOD’s strategic vision for quality assurance, academic development, and global engagement.

UOD Among Kurdistan’s Leading Universities in Accreditation Effort

During the meeting, Dr. Atrushi announced that University of Duhok, alongside Salahaddin University-Erbil and Sulaimani University, has been selected for a national pilot project to lead the academic accreditation process with KAAE. Due to its proactive approach, UOD is already ahead in preparation, aiming to be the first university in the Kurdistan Region to obtain KAAE eligibility by the end of 2025.

Accreditation Process and Progress

The accreditation journey consists of several phases, starting with the Eligibility Stage, which requires meeting 21 institutional criteria.

🔹 Current Progress Highlights:

• UOD has already completed a number of criteria, while others are under active development.
  
  
• Nine specialized teams have been formed to oversee the collection of evidence, conduct gap analysis, and verify compliance.
  
  
• Importantly, no non-compliance has been identified at this stage.
  
  

Each team leader has been tasked with ensuring thorough review and documentation, with all supporting evidence to be submitted to:
📧 [email protected]

Institutional Commitment and Responsibilities

Critical university units, especially the Registration Office and Policy Office, were identified as essential for providing accurate records of students, staff, and policies. These records must be consistent across both internal archives and the university’s official website to ensure transparency during the review process.

External audits, including possible collaborations with accredited U.S. universities, will further strengthen the process. The university is required to submit a Self-Study Report to KAAE based on the finalized eligibility criteria by:
📅 Deadline: September 15, 2025

Leadership Commitment to Success

Dr. Dawood emphasized that while achieving accreditation is a challenging process, it represents a shared responsibility across the institution. He encouraged transparency, collaboration, and proactive communication:

“This is a mountain of work, and teamwork is essential. We aim to be the first university in the Kurdistan Region to achieve eligibility—let’s prioritize this goal above all else.”

The meeting concluded with renewed commitment from all participants, reaffirming UOD’s leading role in shaping the future of higher education in the Kurdistan Region.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE MEDIA COVERAGE FOR THIS EVENT

University Press Office, June 18, 2025
Reported by: Fatima Mahmood Ali
Photography by: Mohammed. A. Tahar

The News Keywords:

• Academic Accreditation
• Kurdistan Accreditation KAAE
• Higher Education in Kurdistan
• Academic Quality Assurance
• Internationalization of Universities