International Relations Office

Knowledge University-Erbil

http://www.knu.edu.iq

WELCOME TO THE INTERNATIONAL ACADEMIC RELATIONS OFFICE (IARO)

• ERBIL THE CAPITAL
• ABOUT
• VISION & MISSION
• OBJECTIVES
• INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OFFICE (IRO)
• INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH AND TEACHING
• INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION
• CLIMATE OF ERBIL/KURDISTAN
• SERVICES
• CONTACT

Erbil the Capital:

Knowledge University-Erbil is located in the city of Hawler (Erbil). The geographical location of the city is 36.2 degree N Latitude, 44.0 degree E Longitude and 420 meters above mean sea level.

Hawler (Erbil) is the fourth largest city in Iraq after Baghdad, Basra and Mosul. The city lies eighty kilometers east of Mosul, and is the capital of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

Life in Erbil can be dated back to at least 6000 BC, and it is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. At the heart of the city is the ancient Citadel of Erbil. The city has been under the rule of many regional powers since that time, including the Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Arabs, and Ottomans.

The Citadel: As the world’s earliest known civilization developed in Mesopotamia...as Genghis Khan worked to create the largest contiguous land empire in history...as the Ottomans occupied European and Asian lands for nearly 600 years...each empire had one thing in common. They all set up camp on a small plot of land in what is now the Kurdistan region of northern Iraq.

The Citadel is possibly the oldest continuously occupied human settlement on Earth, dating back at least 6,000 years. Its extensive history is embedded in its own ground. It sits on an oval-shaped mound that stands about 32 meters (100 feet) high, built up from dirt, debris, and collapsed mud houses from previous human settlements. This ancient town within the heart of Erbil was added to the World Heritage List in 2014. It covers just over 10 hectares (24 acres).

This image of Erbil Citadel and its surroundings was acquired on November 20, 2018, by the Operational Land Imager on the Landsat 8 satellite. From above, Erbil Citadel appears at the center of what looks like a wagon wheel—perhaps more than a coincidence, as evidence suggests humans may have been living there during the Ubaid period, when humans invented the wheel. The Citadel is surrounded by the capital of the Iraqi Kurdistan autonomous region.

The Citadel is today surrounded by tall 19th-century walls, which once gave it an appearance of a formidable fortress. Within those walls, a maze of narrow alleyways and culs-de-sac branch out from the main gate and connect courtyard houses and public buildings—street patterns carried over from the Ottoman period.

Today, only one family lives within the walls, an arrangement by Kurdish officials in order to preserve the Citadel's title of “continuously occupied.” The town currently contains one mosque and various museums open for business. Several organizations are working to rehabilitate and bring new activities to the Citadel.

 ( https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/144736/history-on-a-hill ). 

The city's archaeological museum houses a large collection of pre-Islamic artifacts, and is a centre for archaeological projects in the area.

About Knowledge University-Erbil:

Knowledge University-Erbil was established on September 10th, 2009 as per the Ministry decree number 6/15268. The university is licensed from both the Ministries of Higher Education and Scientifc Research of Kurdistan Region and Central Government of Iraq. Knowledge University is the first top private university in Kurdistan Region-Iraq. It is a progressive institution with distinction programs and global vision. Knowledge University is accredited by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research-KRG and by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of the Federal Republic of Iraq. 

Vision:

Knowledge University aspires to be one of the top leading universities in Iraq, in the Middle East and in the whole region and to be known and recognized internationally for offering comprehensive academic and professional programs and to be world-class teaching University. The University is keen to prosper and grow in the future. Knowledge University will have a significant impact on the development of the country through an advanced education system, research output, and entrepreneurship programs.

Mission:

Knowledge University is committed to create the appropriate learning environment for young students and aluminizes in Kurdistan Region. Knowledge University provides high quality programs in a variety of fields. We are working on developing an academic reputation that stakeholders, faculty and staff can be proud of. Building learning and research centers for developing and upgrading staff and students skills. To create a remarkable development in the educational background of students focused on deep technical knowledge; high education quality; real problem-solving experience; and achieving leadership capability with self-confidence.

 
To contribute to society through delivering high-standard education and research to meet labor market needs.

Knowledge University-Erbil consist of 8 Colleges which holds all together some 14 scientific departments (https://www.knu.edu.iq ). As of July 1st, 2024 the total number of 2650 students (1271 female and 1379 male) , that is to say 48% female and 52% male. The total number of the academic staff working at Knowledge university 126 (both Master and doctoral degrees’ holder), from these 40 female and 86 male. While the number of administrative and financial staff is 46 (20 females and 26 males). 

Objectives:

The main objectives of Knowledge University-Erbil can be summarized as follow;

1. Provide the students the highest quality of knowledge in the fields of Science and humanities.
2. Promote personal, social and academic competence and academic career of students to prepare and to qualify them to be leaders in the future careers and profession.
3. Contribute to the human knowledge through discovery and scientific research in full cooperation and collaboration with leading academic and research institutions around the world.
4. Create excellent reputation of higher education in the country that flourishes the ground for prestigious university of atop international rank.
5. Play a distinctive role in the advancement of higher education and in the development of human resources in Kurdistan Region and the rest of Iraq by linking academic and professional programs to the instant needs of the labor market.

International Academic Relations Office [IARO]

The office of International Academic Relations is opened and established at Knowledge University-Erbil on July 1st, 2024. The International Relations Office is the heart and soul of all international exchange activities at Knowledge University-Erbil. This office is directly linked with the office of the President of the university Prof. Dr. Ahmed Anwer Dezaye. The office is run by the Assist. Prof. Dr. Mohammed Azeez Saeed with full support and collaboration of the president of the university. Our task is:

1.  The coordination and sustainment of international research and teaching partnerships, networks, co-operation agreements.
2.  Staff exchange links with academic institutions around the world.
3.  Development and realization of projects with overseas partners.
4.  We provide researchers and academic staff from the Knowledge University-Erbil with support, guidance, and information throughout the process of preparing and completing a stay abroad. 
5. The International Relations Office assists scholars, academics, and  lecturers from around the globe who wish to work or teach at Knowledge University-Erbil.

We also work with and build partnerships with other international universities and organizations.

The International Academic Relations Office is responsible for policy preparation and policy implementation in the field of internationalization. The main tasks are to inform and raise awareness, coordinate, facilitate initiatives on internationalization and international cooperation.

This translates into tasks focused on the following areas and target groups:

• policy support at the institutional and Flemish level
• facilitating international education projects
• Facilitating summer schools.
• management of bilateral agreements with partner universities
• policy preparation, managing and process monitoring of incoming and outgoing exchange students
• services on in and outgoing mobilities;
  1. incoming and outgoing exchange students (Erasmus and others) in collaboration with faculties and departments
  2. teacher exchange (Erasmus and others)
  3. internships after graduation (outgoing)
  4. specialize abroad after graduation (outgoing)
  5. Internationalization of the Curriculum, development and upgrading.
  6. Implementation of Bologna process and  ECTS system application

The International Cooperation Section is responsible for:

• supporting activities related to initiating and coordinating international cooperation of the Knowledge University with universities and research institutions at the university level around the world;
• preparing bilateral agreements(MOU/MOA) on scientific cooperation realized at the university level;
• providing support to Knowledge University units interesting in signing cooperation agreements on faculty and institute level;
• Organizing trainings and meetings for international relations officers from partner universities around the world;
• maintaining the database of all the Knowledge University's bilateral agreements with international universities and research institutions;
• coordinating exchange within bilateral agreements at the university level and providing administrative assistance to Knowledge University staff, PhD candidate and students;
• administering the Rector's Committee for Bilateral Grants for Students and PhD Candidates;
• coordinating and registering ERASMUS+ agreements (KA1), mobility for learners and staff) and administrative assistance to staff mobility, and (KA2), capacity buildings in the fields of higher education institution.
• collaborating with Knowledge University units concerning rankings, and international cooperation;
• collaborating with Knowledge University units concerning the realization of bilateral exchange of students /PhD candidates at the university level;
• preparing the IRO's distribution list (information about various grants, summer schools, conferences and scientific events);
• Reporting on international co-operation.

Academic Services:

Academic Services is at the heart of education and research endeavor at Knowledge University-Erbil. We inform and influence the development and delivery of a range of activities throughout the staff and student lifecycles and provide support and advice to all staff and to students, enabling them to undertake their responsibilities effectively.

Additionally, we seek to deliver on a range of transformational projects across the University; we also ensure that the activities of the University are conducted in accordance with the University’s own procedures and regulations and in compliance with external legislative requirements.

The International Relations Office (IRO) participates in the implementation of the Knowledge University's policy concerning international cooperation. 

The Climate:

The Climate of Erbil follows the Climate of Kurdistan Region which in turn is the climate of the Middle East. It is a part of the Mediterranean climate and according to Köppen-Geiger climate classification, it has been classified as type (Csa) as semiarid continental , that is to say hot and dry in summer and cold and wet in winter with short Spring and Autumn in comparison to Summer and Winter seasons. 

Edited by Dr. Mohammed Azeez Saeed……. July 2024

CONTACT:                             

Assistant professor Dr. 
Mohammed Azeez Saeed

International Academic Relations Office

Emails: [email protected] 

            [email protected] 

            [email protected] 

Mobile: +964 (0) 750 462 2954