Sulaimani - December 20, 2025 | University Press Office (UNPO) –
The University of Duhok (UOD), as the coordinating institution of the Erasmus+ TRANSITION Project, actively participated in the WP4 Training Week on Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Development, hosted by the University of Sulaimani. The four-day academic training brought together partner universities from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and Yemen, alongside European partners, reinforcing UOD’s strategic role in international capacity building and heritage preservation.

The training week opened with welcoming remarks by Dr. Karzan G. Khidhir, Director of Internal Academic Relations at the University of Sulaimani, followed by presentations from European partners Sapienza University of Rome (Italy) and the University of Évora (Portugal). These sessions outlined the objectives, methodology, and interdisciplinary framework of WP4: Teacher and Staff Training, which focuses on connecting cultural heritage—tangible and intangible—with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in minority and post-conflict contexts.

UOD Presence

The UOD was represented by the following:

• Dr. Zhiyar Sedeeq Ramadhan (the Head of the Department of Archeology)
• Hilbeen Mohammed Ahmed (lecturer)
• JAsim Mohammed JAmeel (student)
• Dilan Mohammed Faeq (student)

During the program, which held from December 8 to 11, UOD staff actively contributed to academic dialogue, knowledge exchange, and field-based learning activities. Participants explored innovative approaches to documenting, safeguarding, and integrating cultural heritage into higher education curricula and community engagement.

Site visits included the Kurdistan Centre for Arts and Culture, the Sulaimani Museum, and the Kurdish Heritage Museum, offering hands-on insights into heritage documentation, digital archiving, and public engagement. Field interactions with local communities in Sabunkaran, Hawar Village, and Hawraman highlighted the role of heritage in intercultural dialogue, social cohesion, and peaceful coexistence.

The training concluded with a certificate award ceremony, where Dr. Karzan G. Khidir recognized UOD’s contributions as the project coordinator, as well as the efforts of European partners and regional institutions. The presence of Dr. Mohammed Aziz, external evaluator of the TRANSITION Project, further emphasized the academic quality and impact of the training.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE MEDIA COVERAGE FOR THIS EVENT

University Press Office, December 20, 2025
Reported by: Fatima Mahmood Ali

The News Keywords

• University of Duhok TRANSITION Project
• Cultural Heritage Capacity Building
• Erasmus+ WP4 Training
• International Academic Cooperation
• Sustainable Development and Heritage