Universities Forum – Kurdistan 2023
Strengthening Rule of Law, Governance, and Academic Quality in Higher Education.
Key Objectives
- Assess enforcement of higher‑education laws in the Kurdistan Region.
- Advance quality reforms and Bologna Process alignment.
- Increase student participation and academic freedom.
- Provide actionable policy recommendations to MHE, Parliament, and universities.
The Universities Forum – Kurdistan 2023 convened policymakers, university leaders, faculty, students, and civil society to diagnose legal and institutional barriers in higher education and to chart a reform agenda. Building on CZO’s monitoring work, the forum highlighted gaps in enforcement of higher‑education laws, challenges in quality assurance, and the need for participatory governance mechanisms. Consensus emerged around adopting Bologna‑based reforms, strengthening quality assurance, and empowering student representation across institutions.
Keynotes & Remarks
- Mr. Bilal Faris — President & Executive Director, CZO.
- Ministry of Higher Education (MHE) — Representative remarks.
- Members of Kurdistan Parliament — Statements on higher‑education reform.
- University Presidents — Governance and quality priorities.
“Universities are pillars of a democratic society—centers of knowledge and civic values.”
Findings from CZO Monitoring (2022)
Legal & Governance
- Weak enforcement of higher‑education laws and overlapping mandates.
- Limited institutional autonomy and inconsistent leadership appointments.
- Underutilized roles for faculty and student representatives in university councils.
Quality & Standards
- Gaps in curriculum modernization and program accreditation.
- Fragmented adoption of quality assurance and Bologna mechanisms.
- Insufficient faculty development and research productivity incentives.
Student Participation
- Weak student representation and limited channels for feedback.
- Need for transparent, democratic mechanisms for student councils.
Recommendations
- Codify enforcement pathways for key articles of the Higher‑Education Law.
- Accelerate accreditation & national ranking frameworks.
- Institutionalize student participation and academic freedom safeguards.
Higher Education Laws: Between Reform & Enforcement
Panelists:
- PD Dr. Mehabad Kamil — President, Halabja University
- PD Dr. Dawood Sulaiman Atrushi — President, University of Duhok
- PD Sherwan Sharif Qurtas — President, Soran University
- Dr. Kawa Mohammed Faraj Qaradaghi — Lecturer, University of Sulaimani
- Dr. Medhat Mohammed Sulaiman — Adviser, Kurdistan Parliament (Higher Education Committee)
Open Dialogue & Q&A
Interactive stakeholder dialogue with parliamentarians, MHE officials, university presidents and faculty, student councils, civil society organizations, and media. Topics included enforcement pathways, Bologna alignment, accreditation frameworks, student councils, and academic freedom.
Who Attended
- Parliamentarians & MHE officials
- University presidents, lecturers & researchers
- Student councils & youth representatives
- Civil society organizations & media
Agreed Next Steps
- Adopt Bologna‑aligned quality assurance across universities.
- Strengthen legal enforcement and clarify leadership appointment rules.
- Institutionalize student participation and academic‑freedom safeguards.
- Coordinate follow‑up working groups led by CZO in partnership with MHE & universities.
