Laying the Foundation for Student Elections Reform

Introduction
In 2017, Eye’s University Organization began its first major initiative with support from the National Endowment for Democracy (NED). The project aimed to strengthen youth and student participation in the public life of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, marking the start of Eye University’s long-term mission to reform student representation and academic governance.

Why This Project Was Needed

Until then, universities in the Kurdistan Region were heavily shaped by political-party influence. Student councils, when they existed, were often dominated by partisan competition, leaving little room for independent student voices. The absence of a legal framework for student elections further deepened the problem.

Eye’s University saw the urgent need to preserve a non-partisan space for student participation and began working toward a draft student elections law.

Key Activities

  1. Drafting a Student Elections Law

  • Organized five workshops in Erbil, Sulaimaniyah, Dohuk, and Halabja with 125 students.
  • Invited a legal advisor with expertise in education, elections, and legislative drafting.
  • Produced a draft law and presented it at a final conference with students, professors, civil society leaders, parliamentarians, and media.

  1. Youth Civic Participation Workshops

  • Hosted five two-day workshops for 40 students.
  • Day 1: Training by civil society activists on democracy and civic engagement.
  • Day 2: Open dialogue with members of parliament and provincial councils, sharing experiences and challenges of political participation.

  1. Public Awareness Campaigns

  • Produced six radio programs to raise awareness about student rights, democratic participation, and the importance of independent student elections.

Impact

  • First draft student elections law in the Kurdistan Region, gaining traction among student leaders and academics.
  • 125+ students trained in democratic participation, with direct engagement from MPs and officials.
  • Public awareness expanded through radio outreach, helping frame student participation as a key democratic issue.
  • Eye’s University established itself as a credible civic actor, rooted in its history as a student-led movement.

Conclusion

The 2017 project was the launchpad for Eye’s University Organization’s reform journey. By drafting a student elections law and engaging students, academics, and policymakers, Eye University created the foundation for long-term advocacy.

This initiative directly led to the 2018–2019 Democracy Ambassador and Taskforce programs, which expanded the campaign for student elections, and paved the way for later projects focused on rule of law and university governance reforms