Rome – January 25. 2026 | University Press Office (UNPO) —
The University of Duhok (UOD) participated in the RISE Project Training Week hosted by the International University of Rome (UNINT), as part of Work Package 3 (WP3) under the EU-funded project Reinforcing Integration of Skills for Employability and Internationalisation (RISE). The training took place on January 12-15, 2026.

The four-day training brought together academic leaders, international relations officers, and career development experts from Kurdistan, Italy, Spain, and the wider Mediterranean region to exchange best practices on internationalisation, employability, digital transformation, and strategic partnerships in higher education.

UOD Delegation and Institutional Representation

The University of Duhok was represented by a high-level academic and administrative delegation reflecting its integrated approach to internationalisation and employability. The delegation included Dr. Lokman Hadi Hassan, Vice President of the University of Duhok, Dr. Nazar Amin Mohammed, Director of the Directorate of International Relations (DOIR), Dr. Ahmed Khairaldeen Ali, Director of the Career Development Center (CDC), and Dr. Rezgar Mostafa Mohammed, and Dr. Juwan Mohammed Mahdi, representing the DOIR. Their participation underscored UOD’s institutional commitment to embedding employability, international cooperation, and capacity development.

UOD’s Role and Contribution

UOD’s participation reflects its leading role within the RISE consortium, particularly in advancing institutional reform, employability-oriented education, and global academic engagement. The training week provided UOD representatives with practical tools and policy insights on:

• International credit mobility (Erasmus+ KA171)
  
  
• Recognition of qualifications and global competences
  
  
• Career guidance models and university–industry linkages
  
  
• Integrating AI and digital tools into employability strategies
  
  

High-Level Academic and Policy Engagement

The programme featured senior representatives from UNIMED, UNINT, the Italian Ministry of University and Research, Information Centre on Academic Mobility and Equivalence (CIMEA), and partner universities, alongside case studies from Italy, Jordan, and Kurdistan. Interactive sessions, B2B institutional meetings, and thematic workshops supported direct collaboration between Kurdish and European universities.

About the RISE Project

Launched in February 2025, the RISE Project is an EU-funded initiative coordinated by UNIMED that aims to modernize higher education in the Kurdistan Region by aligning curricula with labor market needs and strengthening international cooperation. UOD plays a central role, leading key efforts on employability and internationalisation roadmaps in line with its Strategic Plan 2023–2038.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE MEDIA COVERAGE FOR THIS EVENT

University Press Office – January 25, 2026
Reported by: Fatima Mahmood Ali