The University of Kurdistan Hewler opened its doors in 2006 as the First and only Public, English-medium and Independent University in Iraq. The University of Kurdistan Hewler is an initiative of and is funded by the Regional Government of Kurdistan.

 

  UKH is an English-speaking public University dedicated to being the region's leading centre of excellence in research and teaching and in the dissemination and application of knowledge to further the industrial, economic, cultural, environmental and social development of Kurdistan.

 

The University has a focus to produce graduates with the expertise and intellectual capacity and curiosity required to meet the challenges facing Kurdistan, the wider region and world-wide. In achieving these regional aims, UKH is open to all who qualify on academic merit and is committed to actively taking part in the development process with a positive inspiring spirit.   Our teaching philosophy is to teach our students how to think and not what to think. Hence, we strive not simply to instill in our students factual knowledge and give them information that is of use only in the classroom, we strive to train our students in critical analytical thinking and provide them with practical skills that will be of benefit in their future professional careers. .

 

Through a cadre of highly motivated and internationally trained and recognized academic and research staff, UKH provides research training (MSc's and PhD's) and generates research that will advance knowledge and inform policy and decision makers in the region. Hence, research at UKH focuses on and engages in promoting and supporting sustainable development and responding to market needs in the region and beyond. UKH currently offers degrees in Business and Management Sciences, Political Sciences and International Relations, Computer Science and Engineering, and Natural Resource Engineering and Management based on regional needs and student demands.

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Vision Statement

To be distinguished nationally and internationally for providing high quality learning opportunities and for carrying out research, enterprise and community engagement activities that are strongly linked to the needs and development of Kurdistan and the wider region

 

Mission Statement

UKH’s mandate is to educate and train young talents to become the driving force for sustainable development, improving the standard of living and leading intellectual life in the Kurdistan region and in Iraq in general. More specifically, UKH mission is to be recognised as a Centre of Excellence for:

• Providing high quality learning opportunities that are driven by local vision and governed by high international standards;
• Producing graduates that not only have skills and knowledge in their discipline areas, but are critical thinkers able to shape the future of the region and beyond;
• Disseminating and applying knowledge to further the industrial, economical, cultural and social development of Kurdistan and the region;
• Continuing education and life-long learning that plays a key role in the up-skilling of the workforce in Kurdistan and the region;
• Carrying out research and enterprise activities that directly address the needs of Kurdistan.

With nearly 400 of the most qualified and well-educated students in Kurdistan and the wider region, we can rightly say that our mission is being met with success.

 

Our Students

We pride ourselves on the quality of our students, individuals from extraordinarily rich and diverse backgrounds who have all dedicated themselves to the unique and rigorous training and education that UKH provides.

Students at the University are of different ethnicities, hold a wide spectrum of political beliefs, adhere to different religions and speak many different languages. A number of our students even come from different countries, yet all work together to pursue excellence in an intensive educational environment.

Students at UKH are recognized for their exceptional abilities in a number of ways, from being selected for international/overseas study abroad programs and winning highly competitive international scholarships to having their work published in renowned scholarly journals. Students at UKH show initiative, drive and creativity, from organizing educational workshops for their peers to developing innovative projects for their communities.

Our graduates profile demonstrates that our graduates are trained to lead; problems solve, contribute to wealth creation, compete in a market economy and make a difference. The high demand from employers for our graduates is a positive indication that they recognize and value the quality of UKH education and graduates.

                       

Our Staff

UKH Staff are internationally trained professionals with the desire and ability to promote and produce excellence. Our internationally trained and recognized teaching staff strives to train students in critical, analytical thinking and provide them with practical skills that will be of benefit in their future professional careers. The University's academic faculty is accomplished and internationally recognized scholars in their fields are dedicated to providing students with the knowledge and skills needed in the Kurdistan Region and beyond.

The Campus

UKH has invested time and effort to ensure that our campus is a safe, comfortable environment with the resources that students need to thrive academically. The UKH campus contains suitable space and capacity for its growing student body, with classrooms that support small seminars and workshops as well as large lectures. Classrooms are Internet functional and contain data projectors, promoting the integration of technology in teaching. The campus also has four individual computer labs with broadband Internet access.

The UKH Auditorium, with a seating capacity of 400, hosts a number of events each year, from student debates and videoconferences to international guest speakers. The UKH Library, the center of student academic activity at the University, contains nearly 10,000 items freely available for student loan. The Library also provides free access to online databases of scholarly journals, making it a clearinghouse for academic materials unavailable elsewhere in the region.

UKH is currently planning to build a modern and purpose built university campus with associated facilities near Ankawa in Erbil.

                       

UKH World and Iraq Rankings based on The 2011 University Web Ranking:

1. World University Ranking: UKH has gone from the rank of 6931 in 2010 to 6177 in 2011

http://www.4icu.org/reviews/13326.htm

2. Ranking within Iraq: UKH during 2011 is ranked as Number 3 in Iraq
http://www.4icu.org/iq/

Accreditation, Recognition and Affiliations:

• The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Kurdistan regional Government, Iraq.
• The International Association of Universities.
• International Universities Council.