Newsletter - November 2023

AUK Hosted the 2023 MEPS Forum

AUK hosted the fourth Middle East Peace and Security (MEPS) Forum in Duhok, titled "Renewal, Revision, and Resiliency: The Future of the Middle East." Over 800 experts from around the globe participated in the conference, including governmental leaders, academics, and think tank members. Keynote and plenary speakers included H.E. Nechirvan Barzani, President of the Kurdistan Region, H.E. Masrour Barzani, Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region, and former UK Prime Ministers Rt. Hon. Boris Johnson and H.E. Sir Tony Blair. More than 30 local and international media outlets covered the event.

AUK’s College of Nursing Establishes New Partnerships

AUK has partnered with Shiryan Hospital, The Life Center for Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, and the Nursing Home in Duhok to offer nursing students practical experiences. These collaborations provide facilities including operating theaters, laboratories, and unique specialized treatments. In addition, students will receive hands-on experience in real-world healthcare settings.

Further Details:

AUK and UCO Announce Exchange Program

AUK's College of Arts and Sciences has partnered with Université Catholique de l'Ouest, France, to launch an exchange program for students in their respective International Studies Programs. The exchange aims to enhance students' global awareness, promote interdisciplinary understanding, and earn transferable credits for their degree programs.

AUK and BCF Expand Support for Vulnerable Communities

AUK and the Barzani Charity Foundation (BCF) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate on education, student workforce preparedness, and capacity building in the Kurdistan Region. The partnership aims to advance education for vulnerable populations and support their pursuit of higher education.  

AUK Students Return from Internship in Romania

AUK's College of Business sent three outstanding students to Romania for a transformative internship as part of the American University of Kurdistan's (AUK) partnership with the Alexandrion Foundation to promote student workforce readiness and increase internationalization efforts. From July to September, they gained invaluable business experience, which they are now sharing with their peers.

We spoke with the three AUK students, Kavok, Tahir, and Barzan Ghazi, all members of the Class of 2023. Click here for the interview.

AUK’s Business Tycoons Project Exhibition

The College of Business at AUK showcased student projects from the entrepreneurship and consumer behavior classes during an event on November 29. The primary objective was to facilitate networking opportunities between AUK students and business professionals, enabling them to present their ideas to potential investors and receive valuable feedback.

Meet Areen from AUK’s Office of Student Affairs

Areen Jameel is the Coordinator of Operations within the AUK Office of Student Affairs. She is about to enter her seventh year of service to AUK, having begun in February, 2018. She also has responsibility supervising the Female Residence Facility.

She is an infectiously pleasant person, displaying her positivity daily. When asked to name her favorite aspect of her role, she said: “getting to be involved in the students’ interests and helping them achieve their co-curricular goals.” When asked how she thinks the Office of Student Affairs can make AUK an even better place, she mentioned the counseling and disability support services that the Office recently implemented. 

Areen takes the lead in the oversight of the student clubs. When asked which club she would most like to join, she cited the Music Club as music is one of her passions. Her playlist includes pop and rap with lyrics in Kurdish, English, Arabic, and Turkish.