UOD | December 11, 2025, University Press Office (UNPO) —
As part of its strategic commitment to internationalization, student-centered learning, and global academic engagement, the University of Duhok (UOD) continues to strengthen its partnership with Pennsylvania State University (Penn State), USA, through the World in Conversation (WinC) program, now entering its fourth consecutive year.

The International Student Dialogue Program provides a structured academic space that promotes cross-cultural communication, intercultural understanding, and critical dialogue between students from UOD and Penn State. Through facilitated discussions, students explore contemporary social and global issues while developing essential skills such as public speaking, academic debate, analytical thinking, and cultural literacy.

Dialogue Topics and Timeline

This year’s cycle has included a series of interactive online dialogue sessions, each focusing on a different global or societal theme:

Completed Dialogue Sessions

• First Dialogue – November 13
  Topic: When should land be given back to native people?
  
• Second Dialogue – November 19
  Topic: What is “news” and what purpose does it serve?
  
• Third Dialogue – November 20
  Topic: What is “news” and what purpose does it serve?
  
• Fourth Dialogue – December 4
  Topic: Our generation is empowered more than any other.
  

Each session featured active participation from UOD students, who exchanged perspectives, challenged assumptions, and engaged in respectful, evidence-based discussions with their Penn State counterparts.

The dialogue series will continue throughout the remainder of the academic year, offering UOD students consistent opportunities to deepen their intercultural competencies and global awareness.

Academic Leadership and Program Coordination at UOD

At UOD, the WinC program was founded and continues to be led by Dr. Saaed A. Saeed, former Head of the Department of English Language at the College of Basic Education. Dr. Saaed oversees all weekly dialogue sessions, manages the interview-based selection process, and ensures that participating students reflect the University’s standards of academic readiness, diversity, and excellence.

For the current cycle, participating students were selected from the top three achievers in the second stage across all colleges and departments. Out of 50 applicants, a distinguished group was chosen—reflecting UOD’s emphasis on merit, leadership potential, and high academic performance.

At the end of the program, all participants will receive official certificates issued by Penn State University, strengthening their academic profiles and enhancing their competitiveness for future international opportunities, scholarships, and mobility programs

Strategic Alignment with UOD’s Vision

The International Student Dialogue Program directly supports the University of Duhok’s strategic priorities in:

• Strengthening global partnerships and academic diplomacy
  
  
• Enhancing student skills for employability and global engagement
  
  
• Expanding international learning experiences beyond the classroom
  
  

Through sustained collaboration with globally recognized institutions such as Penn State, UOD continues to reinforce its role as a leading center for academic innovation, international openness, and student empowerment.

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University Press Office, December 11, 2025

Reported by: Fatima Mahmood Ali

The News Keywords

• University of Duhok International Programs
  
  
• Penn State Dialogue Program
  
  
• World in Conversation (WinC)
  
  
• Global Student Engagement
  
  
• Intercultural Academic Collaboration