Workshop Participation in Sulaimani

Sulaimani | October 9, 2025 | University Press Office (UNPO) –
The Career Development Center (CDC) and Directorate of International Relations (DOIR) of the University of Duhok (UOD) participated in the consultative workshop held in Sulaimani on September 23-24, 2025, as part of the Reinforcing Integration of Skills for Employability and Internationalisation (RISE) Project. The workshop aimed to shape strategic roadmaps for Career Development Centers (CDCs) and International Relations Offices across the Kurdistan Region.

Preparatory Meeting at University of Duhok

Prior to the Sulaimani workshop, a preparatory coordination meeting was hosted at the University of Duhok Convention Center on September 14, 2025, bringing together representatives from the participating universities and focus groups.
During this session, partners reviewed the progress of the six RISE focus groups—three representing CDCs and three representing IROs—and discussed key recommendations and practical frameworks for the upcoming workshop. The meeting served as a platform to align visions, refine the content of the draft roadmaps, and ensure that all universities in the region shared a unified approach toward career development and internationalization strategies.

Regional and International Collaboration

Coordinated by UNIMED – Mediterranean Universities Union, the event gathered seven Kurdish universities and two partner universities from the European Union to finalize the structure, themes, and actions of these roadmaps. The discussions focused on building stronger synergy between CDCs and IROs to enhance graduate employability, international mobility, and institutional collaboration.

Development of Strategic Roadmaps

Over recent months, six focused groups—three representing CDCs and three representing IROs—worked collaboratively to design two detailed roadmaps. During the workshop, the groups presented and discussed their findings and proposals with the participating universities.
These roadmaps will soon be submitted to university leadership to guide the future organization and coordination between Career Development Centers and Directorates of International Relations across universities in Kurdistan.

Next Steps and Training Activities

As part of the next steps, training visits are scheduled to the University of Murcia (Spain) in November 2025 and the University of Rome (Italy) in January 2026.
In parallel, a series of online training sessions on internationalisation are currently being conducted.

Alignment with the University of Duhok’s Strategic Plan (2023–2030)

The University of Duhok’s participation in the RISE Project directly supports several pillars of its Strategic Plan 2023–2030, particularly:

• Enhancing Graduate Employability: Through structured career development and skills-based learning initiatives.
  
  
• Advancing Internationalisation: By building active partnerships with European universities and global academic networks.
  
  
• Capacity Building and Institutional Development: By aligning CDC and IRO frameworks with international best practices.
  
  
• Community and Economic Impact: By preparing graduates to contribute effectively to Kurdistan’s sustainable development.
  
  

Through the RISE Project, UOD reaffirms its role as a leading institution driving educational innovation, international cooperation, and workforce readiness in the Kurdistan Region.

About the RISE Project

The RISE Project, launched at the University of Duhok in February 2025, is an EU-funded initiative coordinated by UNIMED in partnership with Kurdish and European universities.
It seeks to modernize higher education in the Kurdistan Region by aligning curricula with global market needs, strengthening international partnerships, and developing employability-centered education models.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE MEDIA COVERAGE FOR THIS EVENT

University Press Office, October 9, 2025
Reported by: Fatima Mahmood Ali

The News Keywords

• University of Duhok RISE Project
  
  
• Career Development Center roadmap
  
  
• Employability and internationalisation Kurdistan
  
  
• UNIMED higher education project
  
  

UOD partnerships and training