Introduction
Between 2020 and 2022, ( CZO )Eye’s University Organization implemented the project “Promoting Adherence to the Rule of Law” with support from the National Endowment for Democracy (NED). This initiative was the first of its kind in Erbil, dedicated to monitoring and evaluating how universities and the Ministry of Higher Education apply existing laws. The program highlighted widespread issues of nepotism, partisan interference, and lack of accountability in academic institutions, while promoting transparency and democratic values across the higher education sector.

Why This Project Was Needed

In the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, universities and the Ministry of Higher Education have often struggled with partisanship and favoritism. Examples include:

  • Granting academic titles as political favors.
  • Using universities as platforms for ruling party dominance.
  • Reassigning staff to lesser roles due to political affiliations.
  • These practices undermine academic integrity and weaken the role of universities as independent centers of learning. Eye’s University Organization stepped in to challenge this culture and advocate for fair, law-based governance.

Key Activities and Achievements

  1. Monitoring Universities

  • Conducted weekly field visits to universities.
  • Collected data on adherence to five specific higher education laws.
  • Surveyed staff and students and monitored university websites.
  • Targeted 19 universities, including Salahaddin, Soran, Garmian, Erbil Medical, Komar, and the American University of Sulaymaniyah.

  1. Advisory Board

  • Formed a board of 20 experts: academics, legal scholars, MPs, and activists.
  • Held 10+ meetings to review findings and advise on policy recommendations.

  1. Roundtables and Panels

  • Organized 4 roundtables and 4 panel discussions with lecturers, students, parliamentarians, and officials.
  • Debated violations of laws, structural challenges, and proposed reforms.

  1. Publications and Reports

  • Produced two detailed monitoring reports on legal violations, implementation gaps, and recommendations for reform.
  • Printed 500 copies of each report for distribution to ministries, universities, and civil society.

  1. Forums for Reform

  • Hosted two large public forums in Erbil, each with 75+ participants including parliamentarians, ministry officials, university administrators, and media.
  • Shared findings, opened discussions on remedies, and called for accountability.

  1. Media and Awareness Campaigns

  • Produced 4 short video clips and 2 radio broadcasts to share findings with a broader audience.
  • Reached thousands of students and citizens, with Eye University’s Facebook page alone engaging over 16,000 followers.

Lasting Impact

This project successfully:

  • Brought rule of law violations in higher education into the public spotlight.
  • Created a baseline of data for future reforms in universities.
  • Strengthened the role of civil society as a monitoring and accountability actor.
  • Established Eye’s University Organization as a trusted source of research, advocacy, and reform proposals for Kurdistan’s academic institutions.

Conclusion

The Promoting Adherence to the Rule of Law program was a groundbreaking step toward making universities in the Kurdistan Region more transparent, accountable, and democratic. By combining rigorous monitoring, expert input, media outreach, and direct engagement with parliament and ministries, Eye’s University Organization has set the foundation for ongoing reforms.

This work continues to inspire new initiatives, ensuring that universities remain spaces of integrity, independence, and opportunity for the next generation.