Academic Staff

July 7, 2026, 1:26 a.m.
Shivan Dhaher Abdullah (PhD)
None
Assistant Professor in Medieval history

History
College of Basic Education
University of Duhok

  • PhD in Medieval History, College of Art, University of Duhok, 2012.
  • MA in History , College of Art, University of Duhok, 2004.
  • BA in History , College of Art, University of Duhok, 2000.

My university teaching experience began in 2004, a time when I took up the teaching of history as both a national and academic duty.

At the beginning of my academic journey (2004–2007), I sought to open the doors of ancient and medieval Kurdish history to students in the Social Sciences Department. Furthermore, I built an academic bridge between history and other disciplines by teaching "Kurdology" to students in the Mathematics, English, and Kurdish departments, driven by my belief that history serves as the foundation (the "leaven") for all other sciences.

Between 2007 and 2014, my academic work focused more intensely on "Medieval Kurdish History." This period is a major milestone in my life; I did not merely impart information to students, but also trained them in the art of "academic debate" to enable them to view historical events through a critical lens. During this era, my experience expanded as I taught at the College of Education in Akre and the College of Basic Education in Amedi. This allowed me to engage with students from diverse geographical and social backgrounds.

In the subsequent years (2015–2020), my expertise moved toward more specialized fields. This ranged from lecturing on the "History of the Ayyubid Dynasty" and "European History" to joining private institutions such as Nawroz University, where I taught courses on Civilization and Kurdology.

The pinnacle of my experience came in the 2020–2021 academic year, when I began teaching at the postgraduate level (Master’s and PhD). At this stage, the responsibility grew; I lectured on Kurdish history, the Umayyad Caliphate, and the Ayyubid and Fatimid dynasties. This stage was more than just lecturing; it was about mentoring and shaping a new generation of historical researchers.

Today, after more than 17 years within university halls and among the pages of history, my teaching experience has become my identity. I have always strived to ensure that history is not merely a collection of stories from the past, but a source of lessons and wisdom for building a brighter future.

Academic Leadership

My experience in academic leadership at the University of Duhok began in 2004 when I assumed the role of Coordinator for the Social Sciences Department. This milestone served as a vital foundation for understanding the dynamics of academic work and its fundamental requirements.
In the second phase (2006–2011), as the Faculty Representative for the College of Basic Education, I worked to strengthen coordination and foster an interactive environment between the academic staff and the college administration. This was a proactive period for establishing academic rights and enhancing the level of mutual understanding among the university’s various components.
From 2011 to 2020, I was entrusted with the leadership of scientific departments (the Social Sciences Department and subsequently the History Department). During these nearly ten years, my primary focus was on modernizing curricula and elevating the quality of academic research through a strategic vision designed to keep pace with contemporary scientific advancements.
Since 2020, I have served as a member of the Central Scientific Promotion Committee at the University of Duhok. Simultaneously, I hold the responsibility for Postgraduate Studies at the College of Basic Education. These current roles carry significant weight, as they involve making decisive decisions regarding the academic standing of faculty members and the future of postgraduate students.

Participation in Local and International Conferences

As an active academic in the field of education and higher education in the Kurdistan Region, throughout my scientific career, I have striven to be an influential participant in advancing the educational system and developing the field of research.

The beginning of my scientific activities in international conferences dates back to 2005, when I participated in the international congress of the "Bedirxan Family" in Duhok. In 2012, I played a prominent academic role in formulating educational policies through my participation in the joint congress of the Ministry of Higher Education and the Ministry of Education at Salahaddin University. Additionally, I worked on the project to unify the curricula of the Colleges of Basic Education across the Kurdistan Region.

In the fields of research and history, I have presented several studies and observations at international congresses, including: the Kurdology Congress at the University of Duhok (2012), the Agri City Congress (2013), and the scientific congress of the University of Zakho regarding the impact of the September Revolution (2017). Furthermore, I have participated in scientific activities organized by the Beşikçi Center and the Iraqi Academics Syndicate.

In 2019 and 2020, my academic responsibilities expanded as I served as a member of several high-level scientific, administrative, and preparatory committees for organizing international congresses. These roles included serving on the scientific committees for congresses at Nawroz University and Salahaddin University, as well as being a member of joint committees between the University of Duhok and the Universities of Mosul and Al-Iraqia (Baghdad), in collaboration with the Noon Center.

I consistently strive, through my academic experience, to provide continuous service to academic institutions and the educational process in Kurdistan.

Professional Development and International Training

As part of my ongoing efforts to develop academic capabilities and familiarize myself with modern research methodologies, my participation in international training programs marked a turning point in my scientific vision and professional career. These programs, conducted in coordination with leading German universities, focused primarily on the humanitarian and historical dimensions of research.
The first milestone was in 2009, when I participated in an intensive training course organized by the University of Freiburg (Germany) at the University of Duhok. The main theme of the course was "How to Deal with War Victims." This experience allowed me to become scientifically and psychologically acquainted with the mechanisms used to understand the suffering of victims and to apply this data within administrative and social frameworks, guided by modern humanitarian principles.
The second milestone, which complemented the first, took place in 2012 in Germany. This was a joint training program between the University of Duhok and the University of Kassel, specifically focusing on the methodology of "Collecting Oral History from War Victims." This course was of great importance to me as a researcher in history and sociology; it provided the tools to transform "unwritten" history and the vivid memories of survivors into credible academic documentation.
These two international experiences did not only elevate my scientific expertise but also served as a catalyst for approaching history and the teaching profession with a more humanitarian and scientific perspective in my subsequent administrative and academic roles—such as Head of Department and member of the Scientific Promotion Committee. My ultimate goal through these efforts is to ensure that these modern global methodologies find a practical application within the curricula and research projects at the University of Duhok.

Research

  • Minister Badr al-Jamali and his role in the Fatimid dynasty 455-488 AH / 1094-1063 AD
  • Almruyat civilization in the full book in the history of Ibn Al Atheer

My research interests, within my specific field of specialization, revolve around medieval history, with a particular focus on Kurdish history during this period. My scholarly efforts have been directed toward studying this field from a comprehensive perspective that integrates political history—including the study of Kurdish entities and emirates and their internal and external relations—with cultural history in its intellectual, architectural, and cultural dimensions, as well as economic and social history, reflecting the lifestyles, social structures, and economic activities that characterized Kurdish society in the Middle Ages.

This approach stems from a firm scholarly conviction that understanding Kurdish history in the Middle Ages is incomplete through the study of political events alone. Rather, it requires a holistic historical approach that encompasses cultural, economic, and social dimensions, thus allowing for a deeper and more accurate interpretation of the development of Kurdish society and its interactions within its historical context.

This research vision formed the basis of my career in scientific research, teaching and academic supervision, as I was keen to guide researchers towards addressing topics that are characterized by scientific originality and contribute to expanding the circle of specialized studies, thereby enhancing knowledge of the history of the Kurds in the Middle Ages and enriching the academic library with sound research of scientific value.

I began my academic supervision career at the University of Duhok in 2004, supervising the graduation research projects of fourth-year students in the History Department. Since then, I have been committed to guiding students toward rigorous scientific research in the field of history, with a particular focus on the history of the Kurds in the Middle Ages, based on my belief in the importance of this field of knowledge and the necessity of deepening academic studies within it.

In 2021, my academic responsibilities expanded to include supervising graduate students, especially at the master's level. I continued to guide researchers in selecting scholarly topics that address diverse aspects of Kurdish history in the Middle Ages, aligning with my research interests and contributing to the advancement of specialized historical studies. This approach was a natural extension of my experience in academic supervision within the History Department at the College of Basic Education, University of Duhok.

This journey, spanning more than two decades, reflects a firm commitment to training generations of researchers, consolidating awareness of Kurdish history, and contributing to enriching the academic library with original scientific studies that shed light on the history of the Kurds in the Middle Ages, thereby enhancing the presence of this field in contemporary historical studies.