Cihan University-Erbil: Grand Celebration for Scoring Prestigious Ranking Achievements
Cihan University-Erbil held a ceremony to commemorate its outstanding achievement of ranking first among universities in the Kurdistan Region and second nationwide, following the University of Baghdad. This recognition was awarded in the latest Times Higher Education Interdisciplinary Science Rankings 2025, placing the university among the world’s top institutions for interdisciplinary sciences.
The ceremony was attended by Prof. Dr. Amjad Saber Al-Delawi, President of Cihan University-Erbil; Dr. Nawzad Yahya Bajgar, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Cihan Universities; members of the University Council; faculty members; and thousands of students.
At the outset, Prof. Dr. Amjad Saber Al-Delawi delivered a speech in which he congratulated the university council, faculty members, staff, and students. He stated:
“While all scientific institutions are striving to achieve significant progress, Cihan University-Erbil is proud to be at the forefront of universities. It has achieved a remarkable accomplishment, not only among universities in Kurdistan but also at the national and international levels. This achievement is significant for Cihan University-Erbil and for advancing the level of science in Kurdistan. We have demonstrated to the world that our university is not inferior to any other, and that the capabilities of our nation and our students are second to none.”
The President of Cihan University-Erbil devoted another part of his speech to discussing the various aspects of the ranking and said:
“In this international competition, 92 countries participated, organized by the British magazine The Times. Fortunately, Cihan University-Erbil secured first place among all public and private universities in the Kurdistan Region and ranked second among all Iraqi universities, following the University of Baghdad.
“This achievement was not only recognized and praised by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in the Kurdistan Region but was also acknowledged by Iraq’s Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, which published it on its official website. Moreover, it was prominently featured by Al-Anba Al-Iraq agency with a major headline.
“This accomplishment is not just the success of our teachers but also that of our students. Everyone collaborated to help elevate the level of science in the Kurdistan Region.”
It Can Only Be Achieved Through Science
“From the very first day of this university’s establishment,” continued Prof. Al-Delawi, “we promised the people of Kurdistan that our university would strive to be a pioneer. We are committed to making the Kurdistan Region a leader because we firmly believe that the only path to the development and advancement of the Kurdistan Region and its people is through science and knowledge. Universities are the best institutions for fostering scientific progress.
“Being the largest private university in the Kurdistan Region, we have never faltered in our mission. This commitment has allowed us to achieve high ranks in various competitions. I want to assure you that this is not the end of our efforts. In the coming days, we will celebrate two more significant achievements by our esteemed students.
“At the student level,” Mr. President resumed his speech, “Cihan University-Erbil, has introduced several initiatives to benefit its students. For instance, annually, 50 to 75 students from various departments are sent abroad for academic purposes. Recently, groups have been sent to Ajman, United Arab Emirates, and two more groups will soon travel to Poland to complete academic programs in those countries.
“Additionally, in the next two weeks, another group of students from the College of Dentistry will travel to Baghdad to participate in the largest scientific conference in the region, all of this demonstrates that Cihan University-Erbil is an accredited institution, not only at the level of Kurdistan and Iraq but also internationally. If the university were not internationally accredited, our students would not have been accepted by these foreign universities or been able to complete their studies abroad and return. This is proof that the academic programs at our university meet international standards.
“In Kurdistan Region, Cihan University-Erbil is the first institution to offer the Bologna Process program, a modern academic framework that has been in place in Europe for the past five years. Furthermore, our university is continuously working to expand its relationships with leading global universities and institutions.”
There Are More Achievements on the Way
In another part of his speech, Prof. Dr. Amjad Saber Al-Delawi discussed some of the additional achievements of Cihan University-Erbil for its students. He highlighted that many of our graduates in master’s and doctoral studies, particularly those who ranked first or achieved excellent results in the admission competitions at universities such as Erbil Medicine, Salahaddin University-Erbil, Erbil Polytechnic, Mosul, and Baghdad, were alumni of the scientific departments at Cihan University-Erbil. This success is attributed to the dedicated efforts of our esteemed professors.
Looking ahead, Prof. Dr. Al-Delawi expressed great optimism for the future, stating:
We have high hopes that you will contribute to a bright future for the Kurdistan Region. In the coming days, we will announce even more achievements.
We Want to Create a Better Environment for New Learners
At the end of his speech, the President of Cihan University-Erbil spoke about the first-year students, saying: This year, a new group of students has joined Cihan University-Erbil, bringing with them dedication and enthusiasm. In return for their commitment, we have provided them with several new initiatives to ensure they can study in a more conducive environment and have a brighter future.
Cihan University-Erbil Wants to Be One of the World’s Leading Universities
In another part of the ceremony, Dr. Nawzad Yahya Bajgar, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Cihan Universities, delivered a speech in which he congratulated the faculty members and students. He said, “When we established Cihan University-Erbil, we did not claim that the university was merely a local institution for Kurdistan. Instead, we proved that Cihan University-Erbil has the potential to contribute to the rebuilding and development of Kurdistan.”
You Are the treasure of This Country, and We Will Help You Build and Develop Your Capabilities
In his speech, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Cihan Universities emphasized the university’s commitment to supporting its students. He said:
“You are the future leaders of this country, and we will help you build and develop your capabilities. The university’s plan and strategy are focused on becoming a leading institution at the international level in the near future, just as it currently stands as the top university in the Kurdistan Region and second in Iraq.”
Dr. Nawzad Yahya Bajgar also presented several scientific initiatives to the students to help them enhance their skills and contribute to the reconstruction of Kurdistan. He added:
“I would like to thank the president of the university, the university council, the professors, and the students. I want to reiterate that the administration of Cihan University will not neglect any kind of support and will continue to back your work and projects.”
The First, Second, and Third Places Were Honored
In the final part of the ceremony, top first, second, and third students received awards from Prof. Dr. Amjad Sabir Al-Delawi for the academic year (2023-2024).
The Ceremony was concluded by shooting memorial photographs for the President of Cihan University-Erbil, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Cihan Universities, and the Heads of the Scientific Departments to commemorate the event, marking the conclusion of the ceremony.
