Cihan University-Erbil Hosts the Annual Conference of Universities، Institutes and Schools of Cihan Group
“Our presidents, supervisors, and teachers must dedicate their efforts to creating capable and qualified cadres. Your focus should not only be on the field of education but also on fostering students’ growth across all stages and institutions within the group. Make our institutions a hub for learning and skill-building.”
The annual conference of Cihan Group of Universities، Institutes and Schools was held with the aim of evaluating the past work and formulating a roadmap for the future of universities، institutes and schools of Cihan Group.
Many speeches were presented on this occasion, which was held on Thursday, January 23rd, 2025, in the Conference Hall of Cihan University – Erbil in the presence of the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Cihan Universities, the presidents of the universities, the deans of colleges and the Institutes, the principals of schools, the assistants of presidents of the universities and institutes, heads of the scientific departments.
At the outset, Dr. Nawzad Yahya Bajger, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of universities, institutes, and schools of Cihan Group, delivered a keynote speech. During his address, he emphasized on the pivotal role of scientific and educational institutions within the group. He stated:
“Our presidents, supervisors, and teachers must dedicate their efforts to creating capable and qualified cadres. Your focus should not only be on the field of education but also on fostering students’ growth across all stages and institutions within the group. Make our institutions a hub for learning and skill-building.”
Dr. Bajger further urged educators to work tirelessly to guide, teach, and train students effectively, ensuring that the pursuit of knowledge becomes the foundation of their work and contributes to imparting knowledge to future generations.
Following this, Prof. Dr. Amjad Saber Al-Delawi, President of Cihan University – Erbil, presented the strategy and roadmap for the Universities of Cihan Group. He remarked:
“We previously implemented a roadmap for the years 2020 to 2025, and I am pleased to report that a significant portion of this plan has already been successfully executed.”
In another part of his speech, the President of Cihan University – Erbil emphasized the importance of building on past experiences. He announced the new roadmap and strategy for the Cihan Group of Universities for the years 2025 to 2035.
During the presentation, the strategy was outlined to include various dimensions and themes. Moving forward, Cihan Universities will adopt this strategy as the foundation for their work in several key areas: education, research, counselling centres, community service, and aligning educational programs with market demands.
The strategy also focuses on raising university rankings, implementing the Sustainable Development Goals, expanding partnerships with reputable universities and high-level scientific institutions, engaging in volunteer and humanitarian initiatives, and fulfilling social responsibility, among other objectives.
As Prof. Dr. Amjad Saber Al-Delawi stated, the strategy of Cihan Universities for the years 2025 to 2035 encompasses detailed plans, including the implementation timeline, budget, staffing, and various aspects of all outlined topics. He reaffirmed his commitment to collaborating with the international community to ensure the successful execution of all steps and actions within the strategy.
Finally, the President of Cihan University – Erbil addressed the challenges faced by universities in the Kurdistan Region. He noted that the number of students enrolling in private universities has been declining annually. He attributed this, in part, to the increasing number of colleges and universities.
He emphasized that enhancing the quality of education, focusing on student needs, serving the community, producing capable cadres, and building trust with the families of graduates will become the key factors of competition among universities. “We are committed to excelling in these areas to attract more Grade 12 graduates each year,” he stated.
In another segment of the opening ceremony, speeches were delivered by several distinguished rectors and deans, including:
- Prof. Dr. Omid Rafiq, President of Cihan University – Sulaimani
- Assistant Prof. Dr. Abdulqadir Aziz Naqshbandi, President of Lebanese-French University
- Prof. Dr. Zerevan Abdulmohsen, President of Cihan University – Duhok
- Prof. Dr. Warya Omar, President of Babagorgur University
- Assistant Prof. Dr. Hadi Mahdi, President of Erbil International University
- Dr. Farhad Ibrahim Akbar Shuani, Dean of Qala University College
Each one presented the roadmap and strategic vision for their respective universities.
In another instance of the conference, Dr. Hassan Fahmi Hassan presented a seminar on the use of artificial intelligence in the educational process. Following this, Assistant Prof. Dr. Deler Hussein Qadir discussed university rankings, explaining how rankings are determined and outlining the criteria and characteristics required for different rankings.
The conference program then proceeded, with attendees being divided into 11 different committees, each of which met separately to discuss various topics.
At the end of the conference, the decisions, recommendations, and proposals from the committees were presented. These included several key points, particularly in the areas of strengthening relations between universities, institutes, and schools. Other recommendations focused on quality assurance, accounting, admission procedures, and administrative aspects across all institutions.
