Urban regeneration in Kurdistan
A lecture by Parwez Zabihi


The course of Urban Sociology and the Department of Sociology and Social Sciences hosted on the 26th of October a lecture by Parwez Zabihi.
The conference was open to the public and several representatives of the KRG, international NGOs, other universities around the country enthusiastically joined the event.
Parwez Zabihi is an artist originally from Iranian Kurdistan and currently based in London. Since 1992 he is developing an eclectic observation of the relations between urban development, landscape and social practices in Iraqi Kurdistan. His lecture at UK-H was a provocative combination of passionate personal observations and travel notes with a sharp and acute social critique.
Addressing issues as diverse as carbon foot print, planning strategies (or lack of thereof), self-determination (including the right to coin one’s own currency) and environmental awareness Parwez Zabihi has drawn a complex and thought provoking picture of the directions of contemporary development in Kurdistan. In a sophisticated rhetorical balance between pointing his finger at the shortcomings of the incapacity to think on a long term perspective and the enthusiastic evaluation of the potentials of the present, the lecture triggered the listeners to critically understand the multifaceted reality of present-day Kurdistan. Parwez Zabihi encouraged the audience to build on the multiplicity of good practices that this country provides while benefiting from the possibility of learning from the mistakes of the surrounding countries.

زانكۆى كوردستان ـ هه‌ولیَر رۆژى 25/8/2009 open day

رۆژى یه‌كتر ناسینى قووتابیان و مامۆستایان و به‌شه‌كانى زانكۆى ریَكخست بۆ ئه‌و قوتابیانه‌ى كه‌ داواكارییان پیَشكه‌ش كردبوو بۆ وه‌رگرتنیان له‌ زانكۆى كوردستان ـ هه‌ولیَر، ئه‌مه‌و به‌شیَك له‌و قوتابیانه‌ى داواكارییان پیَشكه‌ش كردبوو له‌ گه‌لڕ كه‌سوكارییان سه‌ردانى زانكۆیان كردو له‌ نزیكه‌وه‌ له‌ لایه‌ن مامۆستایان و قوتابیانى زانكۆ پیَشوازى و ریَنماییكران و دواى خۆناساندنیان به‌ یه‌كترى به‌شه‌كانى زانكۆییان به‌سه‌ر ده‌كرده‌وه‌ و به‌و په‌رِى له‌ خۆبردنه‌وه‌ مامۆستایان و قوتابیان و ستافى زانكۆ وه‌ڵامى پرسیاره‌كانى میَوانان ده‌دایه‌وه‌ و باسى به‌شه‌ ئه‌كادیمى و كارگیَرییه‌كان و ئاستى خویَندن وچۆنیه‌تى سه‌ركه‌وتنى قوتابیان له‌ پرۆسه‌ى خویَندن به‌تایبه‌ت له‌ زانكۆى كوردستان ـ هه‌ولیَر و جیاوازى نیَوان خۆیَندنى ئاماده‌یى و زانكۆ ده‌كرا، به‌هه‌مان شیَوه‌ قوتابى ئاشناى پیَداویستیه‌كان و چۆنیه‌تى هه‌ڵس و كه‌وتكردنیان له‌ گه‌لڕ ستافى ئه‌كادیمى و كارگیَرى و كتیَبخانه‌ى زانكۆ ئه‌ركه‌كانى قوتابى زانكۆ باس ده‌كران . جیَى خۆیه‌تى لیَره‌دا رۆڵى نویَنه‌رایه‌تى قوتابیانى زانكۆ Student Union به‌رز بنرخیَندرآ كه‌ هاوشانى ستافى ئه‌كادیمى و كارگیَرى زانكۆ ریَبه‌رى كه‌سوكار و قوتابیانى ده‌كرد و وه‌ڵامى پرسیاره‌كانیان ده‌دایه‌وه‌ و باسى ئه‌زموونى خۆیَندنى خۆیانیان ده‌كرد له‌ زانكۆى كوردستان ــ هه‌ولیَر .

Open Day Gallery

Post-graduate Certificate Course in English Language Teacher Training

The English Language Teacher Training Institute (ELTTI) at the The University of Kurdistan Hawler, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, is pleased to announce that it is accepting applications for its Post-graduate Certificate Course in English Language Teacher Training for primary and secondary public school teachers. This will be the third consecutive year that the course will be conducted as part of the University of Kurdistan Hawler’s demonstrated commitment to community outreach and in-service teacher training. The course aims to provide primary and secondary public school teachers with opportunities for English language development within the context of an English language teaching methodology curriculum. There is a strong emphasis on practical pedagogical application of course concepts and approaches in the teachers own classrooms. Therefore course participants must be teaching while participating in the course. The course is taught exclusively in English by a native English speaking experienced teacher trainer. Participants in the course must have at least an intermediate level of English language proficiency. The course begins in October and meets three evenings a week throughout the academic school year and is free of charge.

Applications are available on the university website at www.ukh.ac. The Application deadline is September 30th. Interviews are to be conducted in early-october. Classes to begin October 11, 2009. Please return completed applications in person to the University of Kurdistan Hawler to the attention of Anwar Hassan Sherwaly, Assistant to the Head of The English Language Teacher Training Institute at the University of Kurdistan Hawler.

For more information, please contact

The English Language Teacher Training Institute
University of Kurdistan Hawler
066 255 9102
eltti@ukh.ac

UNIVERSITY OF KURDISTAN-HAWLER ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE GOVERNING BOARD OF THE APPOINTMENT OF PROFESSOR SERWAN BABAN AS VICE-CHANCELLOR

The University’s global search for a Vice-Chancellor attracted a significant number of distinguished applications, these were shortlisted and interviewed by an international panel of experts and Professor Serwan Baban emerged as the successful candidate.

It is with great pleasure that the Governing Board of the University of Kurdistan-Hawler announces the appointment of Professor Serwan Baban as the Vice-Chancellor from 1st August 2009.

The Vice-Chancellor will be the Chief Executive Officer responsible to the Governing Board for the academic, financial and administrative affairs of the University. He will lead the University through the next phase of its development.

Professor Baban held academic (Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, Professor) and management (Departmental Chair, Head of School and Dean of Faculty) positions at Universities in the UK, the Caribbean and Australia.

Professor Baban is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (FRGS), Fellow of the Geological Society (FGS), Fellow of the Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Society (FRSPSoc), Fellow of the International Congress of Disaster Management (FICDM) and a Visiting Fellow, School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, UK.

Professor Baban is connected well internationally, and has an accomplished record of research and research training, teaching innovation and curriculum development, and academic management/administration. He has procured and managed numerous research grants, consultancies and studentships, has significant experience in multi-disciplinary endeavours, and has focused much of his industry and community engagement on strategies for managing the environmental challenges facing developing countries as well as research training and education

He has published over 100 papers in international/national journals and international conference proceedings, 29 chapters in books as well as editing 3 books. He is a member of the Editorial Board and an academic referee for a wide range of International, Regional and National Journals.

On a recent visit to Erbil Professor Baban said “I am delighted to be joining such an important institution that will help with capacity building in Kurdistan’ furthermore he said “It is through education that the Kurds can go forward into the 21st century as progressive, capable and resourceful people who have not survived but flourished”

For mor information click on bellow link

http://www.krg.org/

Science Sunday: New Mexico Tech starts distance engineering alliance in Kurdistan

By Thomas Guengerich
New Mexico Tech News Service
Article Launched: 11/08/2008 09:42:22 PM MST


SOCORRO — New Mexico Tech is forming a new alliance with a Kurdish university based in the northern Iraq city of Erbel. Khosrow Bazrafshan, a 1989 Tech graduate and a native Kurd, returned to Socorro last summer looking for faculty to help launch the University of Kurdistan-Hawler. He found two willing takers - petroleum engineering professor Dr. Bob Bretz and distance education director Rob Hepler. The two-man Tech contingent departed Saturday, Nov. 1, for a week-long trip to Kurdistan, where they will help set up a distance education program for petroleum engineering in Erbel, a city known by the Kurds as Hawler. Bretz will offer one class to Kurdish students beginning in January, while Hepler will help implement the technology needed to conduct distance education. Hepler, who is also a videographer, aims to create a documentary about their trip to Kurdistan. "Khosrow came to New Mexico Tech this summer looking for people to teach courses right now," Bretz said. Bazrafshan earned a doctorate in geochemistry at Tech. He is in charge of the Hawler University’s petroleum technology master's program, but he wants to convert the program to petroleum engineering. "The main idea behind my efforts in Kurdistan is to help the government and the petroleum industry educate people from the region and to facilitate the development of our vast petroleum resources," Bazrafshan said via e-mail. He returned to Kurdistan a year ago and quickly realized that the region urgently needs trained professionals and technicians to help the country develop its natural resources. The country has plenty of qualified students lining up for a college education, but limited expertise. "They have no faculty," Bretz said. "That's why he came to us." Bazrafshan also gravitated toward New Mexico Tech because of his familiarity with the programs and people. "I am a Techie and I believe New Mexico Tech could play a major role in educating scientists, professionals and researchers in petroleum fields in Kurdistan," he said via e-mail. "Helping the University of Kurdistan-Hawler is one way that Tech could get involved in these efforts. We need all the help we can get." Dr. Peter Gerity, Vice President of Academic Affairs at Tech, said the new relationship in Kurdistan fulfills the university's mission to act globally. "Anything we can do to strengthen friendships around the world is vitally important," Gerity said. "It's not just educational outreach, but also putting an emphasis on friend-making." The first class to be offered by New Mexico Tech in Kurdistan will be "The Physical Properties of Petroleum Fluids," or PETR 245. The course focuses on the fundamentals of petroleum engineering. Bretz has taught the class via distance education before. In recent years, he recorded his class lectures for a class of four students that included three distance learners - in Norway, Kazakhstan and Houston. "The class works well as a distance course," Bretz said. "Students who have taken the class since we recorded it really like it. They can replay the lectures and that helps the learning process." A significant challenge to interactive distance learning is the limited bandwidth capabilities in Kurdistan. Hepler said Tech would be able to offer more classes to students in Erbel if the region had stronger Internet capabilities. Among their top priorities while in Kurdistan is examining the bandwidth capabilities and using existing technologies to set up a distance education classroom. "With the right software, all we would need is high-speed connectivity," Hepler said. "We'll teach them what equipment to use and how to project the video and audio." Another top priority is developing working relationships with university leaders. Bretz sees this new relationship as an opportunity for New Mexico Tech to add to its portfolio of international partnerships and an opportunity to attract new, qualified graduate students. The Kurdish government is eager to develop academic and industrial relationships, including the sale of oil and gas concessions in the region. The government is paying for all of Hepler's and Bretz's expenses for their trip. The university was formed in 2006 and offers degree-track programs predominantly in humanities and social sciences. The secular, English-language University offers free education and espouses equal opportunity to students of any ethnicity, religion or gender. With its vast petroleum reserves, the government wants to add engineering programs to encourage Kurdish young people to pursue careers in engineering. "When he was here in Socorro, Khosrow said Kurdistan has lots of petroleum; they have petroleum seeping out of the ground," Bretz said. He was a bit skeptical at first - but his skepticism lasted less than 24 hours. The very next day, Bretz read an article in the Wall Street Journal about the oil and gas glut in Kurdistan. "I saw this picture from Kurdistan of a pool of petroleum," he said. "The report said that the entire geologic formation extends from Kurdistan into Turkey and Syria and has 100 billion barrels of oil." The region known unofficially as Kurdistan includes portions of Iraq, Turkey, Iran and Syria. At 390,000 square miles, the greater Kurdistan region is larger than Texas and smaller than Alaska. The Kurdistan Autonomous Region - the only recognized autonomous federal region in the world - includes only the portion in Iraq. The oil reserves in Iraq proper contain another 100 billion to 120 billion barrels of oil. Together, the region rivals Saudi Arabia's oil reserves of 280 billion to 300 billion barrels, Bretz said. "That's a tremendous amount of petroleum," Bretz said. "This is a unique opportunity for New Mexico Tech."

Higher Education and Education committee in the KRG assembly investigate on UKH students

At 9:30am on 16 Oct. 2008 higher education and education committee in the KRG have met with a delegation from UKH to investigate about the issue of a number of students.

The head of the higher education and educational committee, the deputy and all the members attended a meeting including the delegation of UKH that contained of Dr. Shafeeq Qazzaz, Tavga Kareem (UKH GB), Nadia Aljaf (Administration), Robert Deobler and Karie (Foundation teachers) and the representatives of students. The problem of failing and dismissing some students from Foundation Dept has been discussed.

At the beginning of the meeting the head of the educational committee asked for a clarification of dismissing some students from UKH. The students say that, they haven't been told that they won't be able to get to the departments if they failed in the Foundation year and that they can't continue studying in UKH. Now if they dismissed from the university, they will be deprived from studying and their chance will be gone.

On the other hand; the teachers of the foundation declared that the decision hasn't been made arbitrarily but because the students have been studying English language for nineteen months but they still can't write and read academically and according to international standards. That’s why the decision of dismissal has been made.

The committee of education and higher education confirmed that the future of these students will not be declined, a solution has to be found and they should not be deprived from studying whilst they are not able to get to other universities because of this decision.

After a long investigation and bringing some other points related to the issue and after listening to opinion of the student's representative, both parties of the meeting came to some suggestions to solve the problem. One of the suggestions was; in coordination with the committee, a request should be applied to Council of the Ministries and Higher Education Ministry that some of the students should be accepted in other universities accordingly to their high school grades. Also for the period that they have studied in UKH which was almost two years the students should be awarded a certificate in English language so that, they will be able to use it and some of the others should be entered in to the scholarship program competition outside the country, and they should be allocated on Iraqi Ministry of Higher Education portion.

Iraq Ministry of Higher Education Scholarship

The University of Nottingham will be awarding a 20% scholarship towards tuition fees for all students who have been awarded one of the Iraq ministry of higher education scholarships. Every new student from Iraq holding a Government Scholarship and registering on an undergraduate, taught masters or research program at the university of Nottingham in September 2009 – any subject area (excluding MBA), will be entitled to this 20% tuition fees reduction. The scholarships are for each year of the degree program, subject to satisfactory progress.

STUDENT DISCIPLINE AT UNIVERSITY OF KURDISTAN-HAWLER (UKH)

1. All students at UKH are bound by our Code of Conduct, Rules and Regulations. Where problems exist they are to be resolved through informal discussion where at all possible.

2. This instruction deals with the formal means that will be followed when the informal approach has failed or is not appropriate.

3. Attendance.

a. Students must register to continue to study in Academic Year 2008/09. The Registrar will report those that do not register to Administration so that these students no longer enjoy UKH privileges.
b. UKH has zero tolerance for breaches of attendance regulations. Warnings are not necessary and non-attendance without reasonable excuse will lead to dismissal from the University. Department Heads are responsible for informing the Registrar who is then to dismiss the student from UKH.

4. Abusive, Disruptive and Aggressive Behaviour.

a. Class teachers are empowered to remove from their class, immediately and for 24 hours, students who are abusive, disruptive or aggressive to other members of the class. They are to report such incidents to the Head of Department.
b. Persistent offenders or severe cases of abusive, disruptive or aggressive behaviour to other members of UKH may be suspended by Department Heads, who are to form a Department Committee to decide on such action, from all UKH activities and facilities for up to 2 weeks.
c. More severe cases of abusive, disruptive or aggressive behaviour to members of UKH will be dealt with at university level usually, but not as a requirement, through formal warnings in writing and subsequent offences will lead to expulsion.

5. Other breaches of the Code of Conduct. Other cases of breaches of the Code of Conduct may be dealt with by Heads of Department, who are to form a Department Committee to decide on such action, with penalty powers of up to 2 weeks suspension from UKH. Persistent or more serious breaches of the Code of Conduct will be dealt with at University level usually, but not as a requirement, through formal warnings in writing and subsequent offences will lead to expulsion.

6. Appeals and Complaints. Appeals and complaints may be made but must be in writing, and in person, to the Registrar. An appropriate Board will hear the case. The hearing will be at University level and thus if the action is upheld will represent a breach at that level with all the subsequent consequences.

7. Criminal Cases. Students subjected to police enquiries may be suspended for the duration of that enquiry at the discretion of Department Heads/ Rector.

Approved by the Governing Body 6 October 2008

STUDENT INDUCTION PROGRAMME TRANSITION YEAR 2008/2009 Amended Timetable

1. Student induction will take place in the Auditorium in the last week in October as follows:
a. Undergraduates Year 1 and Year 2: Tuesday 28 October at 4pm.
b. Access: Wednesday 29 October at 4pm.
c. Postgraduates: Thursday 30 October at 4pm.

2. The aim of the induction is to explain to students what is expected of them and how to interface with the University authorities.

3. Attendance is compulsory for all students.

4. The Outline Programme for each cohort will be:

a. Introduction from Rector.
b. Scholarship to International Standards by the Senior Academic.
c. UKH Administration: an Explanation by the Managing Director.
d. Student Point of Contact by the Registrar.

UNDERGRADUATE YEAR 1 PLACEMENT 2008/09

UNIVERSITY OF KURDISTAN – HAWLER
UNDERGRADUATE YEAR 1 PLACEMENT 2008/09


The Academic Board has accepted all students who have passed into the Undergraduate Programme Year 1 for 2008/09 into the degree track of the Academic Department of their first choice. In line with most western universities students will have the opportunity to engage in interdisciplinary learning by taking courses across all the undergraduate departments during the first year of their studies. This will also allow students, with the guidance of the University’s academic staff, to confirm where best to focus their studies in the longer term.

Academic Board
25 September 2008

DEVELOPMENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KURDISTAN HAWLER ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE GOVERNING BODY

OVERVIEW

The Governing Body recognizes that there is much to be done to put the University onto a proper foundation. Work is being done to put this right. Meanwhile the Governing Body regrets what has happened and wishes to be as fair as possible to all our students so that they can make the very best of their opportunities without damage to existing regulations.

1. Undergraduate Progression. The Governing Body agreed the Undergraduate Exam Board recommendation that selected students may retake the Year 1 of the Undergraduate Programme in 2008/2009. They are to be subject to end of module and end of semester review to decide if they are to progress further. They will not be permitted to hold any appointment within the University (Student Union, Magazine, Committees etc) during the year. The outcome of individual student appeals will be notified by the Registrar.

2. Post Graduate Admissions. There will be no further Postgraduate admissions until the University makes such an announcement.

3. Accreditation. Given that no accreditation with the University of Bradford has been secured due to technicalities the Governing Body has directed that other international accreditation avenues are immediately explored.

4. Admissions for Academic Year 2008/2009. There will be no new admissions into any part of the University for academic year 2008/2009. Those recommended for a second year in Foundation will be able to continue their studies.

5. Undergraduate Programme Year 1 Academic Year 2008/2009. Those students who pass out of Foundation in 2008 may choose from the following options but must note that the University cannot forecast what future policies and practices will apply:

a. Join the Year 1 Undergraduate Programme in October 2008 even though there may not be international accreditation.

b. Take a year out and join the Year 1 Undergraduate Programme in academic year 2009/2010. Students should be informed that the University cannot guarantee that international accreditation will be achieved for this Programme and it is likely to be a different programme from that currently offered.

c. Go elsewhere.

6. KRG Regulation Change. Acknowledging the shortcomings at the University, the KRG has agreed to change the regulations for this year so that students who leave the University of Kurdistan Hawler may apply for a place at another university in the Region.

Governing Body

9 July 2008

First Meeting of the Governing Body of the University Of Kurdistan Hawler

The Governing Body of the University of Kurdistan Hawler held its first meeting on Saturday 5 July 2008. After the Meeting the Governing Body met undergraduates who had formal appeals against the decisions of the Exam Board. The outcome of these appeals will be issued to students shortly and some other announcements will follow.

UNIVERSITY OF KURDISTAN HAWLER GOVERNING BODY

The University of Kurdistan Hawler is delighted to announce that the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government has appointed a Governing Body that replaces the Board of Directors appointed on 4 April 2006. Effective from today the Governing Body consists of the following members:

HE Nechirvan Barzani ---------------- Prime Minister
Dr Shafiq Qazzaz --------------------- Chairman
Dr Khaled Salih ----------------------- KRG Representative
Mr Robin Brims ------------------------ Rector
Ms Fatima Karim ---------------------- Managing Director

Further members will be appointed in due course.

Journalism and Democracy Seminar at UKH

On May 20th the University of Kurdistan-Hawler hosted a Journalism and Democracy Seminar. The moderator of this seminar was award winning journalist Michael Howard. The panel consisted of Hiwa Osman, the current director of the Iraq Program for the Institute of War and Peace Reporting; Bayan Sami Abdul-Rahman, the London representative of the Kurdistan Regional Government; Gwynne Roberts, an award-winning British film maker who has documented major developments in Iraqi Kurdistan for more than 25 years and a former journalist; Susan Meiselas, an award-winning photographer who joined the Magnum news agency in 1976 and has worked as freelance photographer since; and Mike Granatt, the former head of the Government Information and Communication Service in the UK. The seminar was opened by Robin Brims, Rector of University of Kurdistan-Hawler. Mr. Howard introduced the panel and the main subject for the panel’s discussion: the rights, responsibilities, and press freedom of journalism in Iraq, Kurdistan, and worldwide. Each panel member gave a brief example of the issues or problems they had faced while covering news inside and outside of Iraq.

Many important members of the government and community attended this seminar at the University of Kurdistan-Hawler, such as, Mr. Safeen Dzayee the KDP’s external relations director and representative in Ankara Turkey, Dr. Foud Hussein President Divan (Dewan) of Presidency and KRG representative, Mr. Saro Qader Head of KPD Media. Mr. Ayad Ismail Kaky head of Kurdistan Lawyers Syndicate, Mr. Hamad Mohammad Ali secretary of the Journalist Syndicate, Mr. Bill Dickson UK Consul, Mr. Jonathan Cebra member of US consul, Mr. Karwan Aqrawi Chief of Kurdistan TV, Mr. Hawer Bakhawan member of International Criminal Court (UN) and a journalist, Mr. Madhi Mandalawi Minister of Region, Dr. Shafiq Qazaz President of Kurdish Academy and his wife, Mr. Mohammad Maaruf Bureau of Kurdish Academy and Professor at the college of Journalism at Salahdeen University, and many other VIP members.

Newspaper representatives and TV station chiefs attending the seminar, included Kurdistan TV, Kurdsat TV, Nawroz TV, Qalat TV, Hawler TV, Rozhnama newspaper, Khabat newspaper, Awena Newspaper, Hawlati newspaper, Media newspaper, Sabah Al-Ghadeed newspaper, Radio Nawa, two members of Duhok Journalists, Chawder Newspaper and many professors from inside and outside of Kurdistan University.

The panel emphasized the importance of media freedom, which had often been gained through great sacrifice. They also pointed out that the great responsibilities which freedom brings. The media had to develop the trust of the people by telling the truth, and that truth was always supported by evidence. They said that free media contributed to the development of democracy by giving the public the truth so that they could make good choices. Speakers from all sides were candid in acknowledging that there were still problems in the Kurdistan Region between the media and the Government. They agreed that the Kurdish media was still developing and needed to develop the best professional skills. They also agreed that the Government needed to develop good professional skills for providing information and for handling the media.

The seminar started at 5:00 pm and ended at 8:00 pm; the moderator and the panelists started the seminar and then turned it over to an open discussion. Many people were given the chance to join the discussion, and the journalists and members of media were given the opportunity to ask for professional advice. People leaving the seminar all seemed very pleased. The University’s Rector and Managing Director were very proud of the excellent job the University staff had performed in hosting the seminar.

By: Heline Ali

The future rulers of Kurdistan, UKH students pay a visit to Kurdistan National Assembly

On April 13th 2008, department of International Relations & Political Science students of the University of Kurdistan - Hawler, were invited to the Kurdistan Parliament; twenty four students along with Dr Denise Natali and Dr Francis Owtram responded to the invitation. Members of the Kurdistan Parliament organized a warm welcome for Students and Professors of UKH; thus, the students felt that the Members of Parliament's reaction was extraordinary and very pleasing. Students were pointed out as "the future rulers of Kurdistan" by both the parliament speaker and his deputy, and their comments left students of UKH hopeful of a brighter future. Students were received by Mr. Adnan Mufti the parliament speaker warmly welcomed students. He gave a short but informed explanation about the operation of the Parliament, its members, and its strategies. Mr. Mufti further added that the Kurdistan Parliament operates in a fully democratic environment, where the voice of every member is heard fairly. Mr. Mufti then invited the students to attend in an official session of Parliament which was on Kurdistan’s budget. It was an excellent experience for students to see a professionally operating Parliament. Then the students were received by Dr. Kemal Kerkuki, deputy of parliament speaker. He was also extremely generous and welcoming and offered the students the opportunity to have an open discussion with him and ask anything in regards to the Parliament or anything to do with political issues. Dr. Kerkuki was exceptionally open and liberal with his responses. Dr. Kerkuki after spending a long time with students then invited them to lunch. Student of UKH left the Parliament happy for visiting and look forward to succeeding in their studies and one day, hopefully, they will become professional rulers. The trip was organized by Public Relations department of the Student Union in UKH.

UNIVERSITY OF KURDISTAN HAWLER ADDRESS BY THE FIRST RECTOR ROBIN BRIMS Monday 10 March 2008

[Kurdish welcome]I am addressing my message to the Academic Staff, the Administrative Staff and the Students of the University of Kurdistan Hawler (UKH). I have been appointed by the Prime Minister as your first Rector to provide the necessary organization and management leadership to ensure that the University reaches the vision that he has set. This will allow the Staff and Students to flourish in their education and research. This is essential if we are to meet the Prime Minister’s demanding but very clear vision. UKH is to produce people who are able to take their place amongst the leadership of Government. We should have here today future ministers, senior officials and diplomats who will work their way up from the foundation established at this University. We should also have the current and future academics that will provide not only this education, but the research that informs political thinking. And we should have people with the wisdom and practicality to make and implement plans. This is why this University is so important, needs to be international and must always strive for excellence; mediocrity is failure. I was a soldier in the British Army for 38 years and am now retired. This does not mean I wish to turn UKH into a military academy; because that would fail to meet the Prime Minister’s vision. I am not an academic; indeed I did not attend a university myself. But I know some first class academics and I intend to harness their work which is the essential ingredient for the success of our University. And success will be measured by the Prime Minister. So why am I considered suitable for this task? The answer is simple. I have not spent the last 38 years leading the charge at the front of the troops. I have led by analysis, idea, planning and implementation, overcoming the inevitable obstacles that come in the way. In short I am a problem solver. I know the importance of structures, procedures, freedoms and constraints, and human resource policy and practice. If this management infrastructure is right, and orders are communicated with real understanding, it is my experience that people give of their best for the overall venture. So these are the skills that I shall bring to ensure that UKH is set on sure foundations. It is normal in Europe and America for someone of my background to become involved in similar roles. An independent audit of all aspects of our University will be carried out and this will inform the change that is necessary. I shall then be looking to all of you to be a part of the subsequent analysis and selection of plans and processes that we need to adopt to ensure success. This will take time to get right; and I know that it is better to be smaller but excellent at the early stages of a venture. More widely I am certain that people gain a much better understanding of each other and, crucially, form lasting friendships, through sporting and cultural activities. The best ministers, officials and diplomats have a wide interests and perspectives. So I intend to find ways to enable these aspects of a genuinely excellent, rounded, education to flourish, and in the process establish a relationship with the civic community here. There is much to be done. My first priority is to provide a calm and constructive atmosphere in which you can all return to scholarship. So now I send you all away for the holiday period and look forward to seeing you on return. [End with a Kurdish expression]

Download the Speech (English)
Download the Speech (Kurdish)