UOD, October, 2025 | University Press Office (UNPO) – The University of Duhok (UOD) marked a milestone in its commitment to student-centered learning and inclusive campus life by launching the First Student Conference on “Student Well-Being on UOD Campus.” Organized by the Psycho-Social Counseling and Student Services Center, the event brought together over 100 students from across UOD’s colleges, alongside University Council members, researchers, and international partners from Germany and Austria.

The conference emphasized the importance of student voices in shaping academic and social life. In his opening remarks, Dr. Nabaz Ibraheem Mohammed, Vice President for Student Affairs, stressed:

• “A successful student is not only defined by academic achievement, but also by active engagement in cultural, scientific, and social activities.”
  
  
• “These experiences build lasting memories and friendships that enrich university life.”
  
  

Student-Led Themes

The program featured seven student groups, each addressing a key dimension of student well-being:

• Acting with Purpose: Fostering Engagement and Achievement – strengthening participation and achieving goals.
  
  
• Striving for Success: Navigating Goals as a Student– defining goals as a student.
  
  
• Thinking Critically: Empowering Students to Learn and Reflect– preparing students for learning and hope.
  
  
• Feeling Well: Emotional Literacy and Resilience in Universities – building emotional resilience and balance.
  
  
• Relating Meaningfully: Building Connections in Educational Communities– fostering positive connections within the learning community.
  
  
• Having Resources for Learning: Supporting Students’ Access to Tools and Opportunities – supporting access to academic tools and opportunities.
  
  
• Being a Student Today: Identity and Growth in Education – defining the role of students in their educational journey.
  
  

Through workshops, poster sessions, and a creative exhibition, students shared their perspectives and proposed innovative solutions for enhancing campus life.

Leadership Support

Speaking at the plenary session, Dr. Dawood Sulaiman Atrushi, President of the University of Duhok, praised the initiative as:

• “A golden opportunity for the university leadership to hear directly from its students, who are the true mirror of the university.”
  
  

He noted that the conference aligns with UOD’s strategic vision to combine academic excellence with well-being, inclusivity, and international engagement.

International Participation

The event was enriched by contributions from international partners:

• Dr. Heike Wendt, representing the RESI Project, applauded UOD students for their creativity and ideas.
  
  
• International participants emphasized that the conference demonstrates the university’s diversity and strong commitment to student engagement.
  
  

Strategic Impact

By offering students a platform to express their perspectives, the conference strengthened UOD’s role as a regional leader in higher education innovation. It also demonstrated the university’s commitment to:

• Providing a greener and more inclusive campus.
  
  
• Strengthening student participation in decision-making.
  
  
• Expanding international academic collaboration.
  
  

Organized within the framework of the RESI Project, with support from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and funding from the German Federal Foreign Office, the conference reflects UOD’s role in advancing student well-being and global partnerships in higher education.

Explore the full photo coverage of the event

University Press Office – October, 2025
Reported by: Fatima Mahmood Ali, Bareen Mohammed Ahmed
Photography: Ali Habib Habib, Harman Jangeer Ahmed

The News Keywords:

• University of Duhok Student Conference 2025
  
  
• Student Well-Being in Higher Education
  
  
• RESI Project DAAD Kurdistan
  
  
• International Collaboration in Iraqi Universities
  
  
• Student Engagement at UOD