Cihan University-Erbil Leads the Higher Education Scene in the Arab World with a Quantum Leap in Academic Rankings
Cihan University-Erbil, one of the most prominent private educational institutions in Iraq, is witnessing remarkable development and quantum leaps in the fields of higher education, scientific research, and community service. These developments come in the context of the university’s continuous endeavor to enhance its position on both regional and international levels. These efforts have been crowned with prestigious classifications, especially in the Times Higher Education Arab University Rankings.
Leadership and Excellence: Prominent Achievements in Global and Regional Rankings
Cihan University-Erbil has made notable achievements in the latest global and regional rankings, including the Times Higher Education (THE) Arab University Rankings 2024, which confirms the quality of its educational and research programs and outcomes.
In a remarkable achievement that underscores its leadership, Cihan University-Erbil secured the 19th position among public and private universities in Federal Iraq and the first position among all private universities in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq in the updated edition of the Times Higher Education Arab University Rankings for 2024. This ranking was based on strong performance across key indicators, with the university’s overall score ranging between 34.7 and 36.7.
This advanced ranking reflects the university’s outstanding performance in various aspects of the evaluation, which are:
- Research Quality
- International Outlook
- Research Environment
- Teaching
- Society
Details of Iraqi Universities’ Ranking in the Times Arab University Rankings 2024:
The following table shows the performance of a number of Iraqi universities, including Cihan University-Erbil, in the Times Higher Education Arab University Rankings 2024, with details of their scores in the main pillars:
This achievement places Cihan University-Erbil among the best universities in the Arab region and reflects the dedication and hard work of its researchers, academic staff, and administration.
The Times Arab University Rankings for 2024 includes a total of 238 universities from 16 countries or territories.
Other Global Rankings:
Furthermore, the university managed to be ranked within the 1001-1500 category globally in the “Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2025” out of 2318 participating educational institutions. This ranking reflects the university’s effective contribution to achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), where it showed outstanding performance in several developmental goals, including:
- Good Health and Well-being (SDG 3): The university achieved a prestigious rank within the 301-400 category globally.
- Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6): It secured a position within the 401-600 category.
- Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7): It achieved a very advanced rank within the 101-200 category globally.
Cihan University-Erbil also achieved advanced positions in the SCOPUS rankings, where it ranked first among universities in the Kurdistan Region and second in Iraq in the latest Times Higher Education rankings for multidisciplinary sciences 2025. In the “AD Scientific Index 2023” ranking, the university topped the list of Iraqi universities, securing the first rank among 112 Iraqi universities and 27 universities in the Kurdistan Region.
Updating Curricula to Keep Pace with Global Developments
In a strategic move towards enhancing the quality of education and qualifying its graduates for the future job market, Cihan University-Erbil has integrated the “United Nations Sustainable Development Goals” course into its academic curricula, reflecting its progressive vision and commitment to social responsibility. In addition, the university has integrated the concepts and applications of Artificial Intelligence into the curricula of all its academic departments, as part of its endeavor to keep pace with rapid technological developments and equip its students with the necessary skills for the future.
These achievements and advanced steps affirm Cihan University-Erbil’s commitment to providing high-quality education and contributing effectively to scientific and community development in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq.
For more information about Cihan University-Erbil, its rankings, and programs, you can visit the following links:
- Cihan University-Erbil Website
- Cihan University-Erbil’s ranking in Times Higher Education
- University news about THE Impact Rankings 2025
- University news about integrating Sustainable Development Goals
- University news about integrating Artificial Intelligence
- Cihan University-Erbil’s ranking and analysis – AD Scientific Index 2025
