📍 University Press Office (UNPO) | May 21, 2025 | In line with its strategic vision for inclusive education, cultural preservation, and international academic leadership, the University of Duhok (UOD) proudly highlights its role as coordinator of the TRANSITION Project on this year’s World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development. This occasion presents an opportunity to reaffirm UOD’s dedication—through TRANSITION and its global partners—to advancing peace, mutual respect, and sustainable development by strengthening the role of higher education in protecting the cultural heritage of minority communities in regions affected by conflict.

21 May 2025 – On the occasion of the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, we want to present the TRANSITION Project commitment to promote peace, inclusivity, and sustainable development through the protection and education on Cultural Heritage of Minorities (CHM) in conflict-affected regions.

Working across the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and Yemen, the TRANSITION project aims at reinforcing the role of higher education institutions in protecting both tangible and intangible cultural heritage of minority communities. In areas deeply affected by decades of conflict, instability, and marginalisation, the preservation of minority cultures is more than a symbolic gesture—it is a powerful tool for reconciliation, resilience, and development.

As the world marks the World Day for Cultural Diversity, the TRANSITION project stands as a tangible example of how higher education and awareness can act as catalysts for peace. Through its activities, the project not only supports the “right to enjoy one’s culture” as outlined in the 1992 UN Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities, but also strengthens institutional strategies to protect and preserve cultural heritage during and after conflict.

Coordinated by the University of Duhok and by engaging five other universities—namely: University of Sulaimani, University of Zakho, and Soran University in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, and University of Aden and University of Taiz in Yemen—the project empowers academic institutions through Capacity Building and Training of Trainers, in partnership with European institutions:Sapienza University of Rome, University of Évora, and UNIMED – Mediterranean Universities Union.

The project aims to assess, review, and update curricula on Cultural Heritage of Minorities, strengthen key academic competences, and develop context-sensitive educational materials. Moreover, it seeks to foster cross-cultural dialogue among students, faculty, local communities, and civil society.

At its core, TRANSITION promotes understanding of diversity as an asset and a source of collective strength. By introducing students to the rich cultural legacies of minority groups, the project aspires to break cycles of ignorance and division while nurturing a new generation of leaders committed to inclusivity and mutual respect.

Through workshops, public campaigns, and community outreach, TRANSITION extends its impact beyond academia—engaging decision-makers and civic institutions to ensure that heritage safeguarding contributes to shared narratives and sustainable economic development.

The TRANSITION Project is co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union.

Read more on the kick-off ceremony of TRANSITION Project at the UOD: CLICK HERE

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University Press Office, May 21, 2025

Fatima Mahmood Al