Cihan University-Erbil Participates in Drafting Roadmap for Autonomy of Universities and Higher Education Institutions in Kurdistan

Under the patronage of Professor Dr. Aram Mohammed Qadir, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, the first discussion session on the autonomy of Kurdistan universities was held. A delegation from Cihan University-Erbil, led by Professor Dr. Amjad Sabir Al-Delawi, President of Cihan University-Erbil, participated in this discussion.

The discussion, which took place on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, in Erbil, was attended by university professors, academics, and experts in the field. In his opening remarks, the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research welcomed the professors and academics for their participation in this inaugural discussion on “the issue of university autonomy.” He stated that “the concept of university autonomy is a crucial and multi-faceted issue, encompassing institutional, financial, and administrative independence, as well as academic freedom. It is intrinsically linked to the concepts and principles of freedom, democracy, human rights, and the efficiency of academic institutions.”

The Minister of Higher Education further elaborated in his speech: “Seventeen years after the promulgation of the first law on higher education, it is now time to rethink the legal foundations of higher education in our country with a new vision, ensuring scientific, financial, and administrative independence for higher education institutions.” He added: “Until a new draft law for higher education in the Kurdistan Region is issued, we will work on formulating a roadmap for greater autonomy for universities and higher education institutions in the Kurdistan Region, so that universities become more democratized in their structure and operational mechanisms, and evolve into institutions capable of self-governance, self-evaluation, and self-correction.”

Subsequently, the way was paved for discussion among the attendees. Professor Dr. Amjad Sabir Al-Delawi, President of Cihan University-Erbil, reiterated his support for the process and emphasized the necessity of university autonomy in scientific, administrative, and financial aspects. He added that “it is important to establish a legal framework for this purpose so that universities can operate accordingly.” He also announced that Cihan University-Erbil will submit a proposal for a university autonomy project in various fields to the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in the future, outlining the operational details.

The Cihan University-Erbil delegation included Dr. Ali Hussein Mohammed, Head of the Biomedical Science Department, Dr. Omar Zubeir, Head of the Law Department,  Dr. Salih Zebari, Director of the International Relations Office at Cihan University-Erbil and Dr. Hassan Fahmi Hassan. The attendees presented their specific insights and opinions regarding university autonomy. Broadly, all participants agreed to work together to transform higher education in the Kurdistan Region into a successful and distinct model compared to other models in the Middle East.