UOD, August , 2026 | University Press Office (UNPO) – The University of Duhok (UOD) officially inaugurated its new AI Research Hub at the Central Library, marking another milestone in the University’s commitment to research excellence, innovation, and digital transformation.

The event was attended by Dr. Lokman Hadi Hasan, Vice President for Scientific Affairs and Postgraduate Studies; Dr. Nabaz Ibrahim Mohammed, Vice President for Student Affairs; Dr. Karwan Jaafar Al-Dosakee, Director of the Central Library; deans and directors of university colleges, directorates, and centers; representatives of external institutions; and distinguished guests and experts from different disciplines.

Advancing Research Through Artificial Intelligence

Welcoming the participants, Dr. Lokman Hadi Hasan highlighted the importance of establishing the AI Research Hub as a step toward strengthening the University’s research environment and embracing emerging technologies that can support researchers and improve the quality of academic work.

The establishment of the hub reflects UOD’s efforts to equip its academic community with modern research resources and provide researchers with opportunities to develop their skills in using artificial intelligence responsibly and effectively.

Two Seminars on AI and Cultural Documentation

The inauguration was accompanied by two specialized seminars.

The first, “The Concepts of University Libraries in the Era of Artificial Intelligence (AI),” was delivered by Dr. Ahmed Demirhan, Director of Barzani National Memorial (DBN), and explored the changing role of university libraries and the opportunities presented by artificial intelligence in the academic and research environment.

The second seminar, “Documentation as a Tool for Preserving National Culture,” was delivered by Dr. Salah Mohammed Saleem and highlighted the importance of documentation in preserving national culture and cultural heritage.

The two presentations were followed by an interactive question-and-answer session, allowing participants and experts to exchange views and discuss the role of emerging technologies, research, libraries, and documentation in supporting academic and cultural development.

AI Research Hub Officially Inaugurated

Following the seminars and discussion, the AI Research Hub was officially inaugurated at the Central Library, marking a new beginning in providing modern research support at the University of Duhok.

The hub provides faculty members, postgraduate researchers, and undergraduate students with access to advanced AI-powered research tools, specialized training, and guidance on the ethical and responsible use of artificial intelligence in academic research.

AI Tools Supporting the Research Process

The AI Research Hub provides institutional access to a curated suite of licensed AI-powered tools, each supporting different stages of the academic research and writing process. These resources are designed to help faculty members, postgraduate researchers, and students work more efficiently while maintaining academic integrity and critical judgment.

Among the tools available through the hub are:

• ChatGPT: Supports brainstorming research ideas, developing outlines, drafting initial research materials, and engaging in detailed analysis and discussion of research topics.
• Grammarly: Assists researchers in improving grammar, sentence structure, academic style, and tone to produce clear and polished academic writing.
• Moonlight: An AI-powered academic PDF reader that supports researchers in understanding scholarly literature by highlighting key methodologies, explaining complex terminology, and providing assistance with equations and tables.
• Julius: Supports quantitative data analysis and helps researchers work with and interpret research data.
• Elicit: Assists researchers in discovering and organizing relevant academic literature and creating research tables based on selected studies.
• Consensus: An AI-powered academic search platform that helps researchers find, organize, and analyze findings from peer-reviewed scientific literature.
• Turnitin: Supports academic integrity by helping identify similarities in submitted work and providing tools that assist in maintaining originality and responsible academic practice.

The launch of the AI Research Hub represents an important achievement for the University of Duhok and reinforces its commitment to creating a modern, technology-supported research environment that empowers its academic community and contributes to the advancement of knowledge.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE MEDIA COVERAGE FOR THIS EVENT

University Press Office, August, 2026
Reported by: Fatima Mahmood Ali
Photography by: Mohammed A. Tahar