AUK Hosts Wikipedia Translation Graduation Ceremony – The American University of Kurdistan

On January 28, 2025, the American University of Kurdistan’s (AUK) College of Arts and Sciences, in partnership with Ideas Beyond Borders, proudly hosted the Wikipedia Graduation Ceremony. This event marked the culmination of a six-month translation program (May–November 2024) aimed at enhancing students’ translation and editing skills while promoting Kurdish knowledge, culture, and contributions to the global digital landscape.

The initiative was spearheaded by Dr. Lazgin Zeebaree, a Member of AUK’s Board of Trustees, who emphasized the project’s significance for the Kurdish language. He stated:

The most important part of this project is to strengthen the Kurdish language and deepen its roots within the Kurdish community. It has been said that by the year 2100, of the 3000 languages currently spoken, only 300 languages will survive, and I hope Kurdish is one of them.

Over the first three months, students translated 48 articles from Kurdish to English, covering biographies, historical events, and cultural traditions. The aim was to introduce global audiences to Kurdish artists, political leaders, and traditional practices. During the following months, students participated in a translation competition, working on 15 additional articles from Kurdish or Arabic into English. Their work was evaluated based on accuracy, linguistic fluency, and cultural representation, leading to the selection of top winners who demonstrated exceptional skill in bridging languages and cultures.

During the ceremony, Dr. Randall Rhodes, AUK President, highlighted translation’s role in fostering global collaboration. Hussein Ibrahim, Director of Ideas Beyond Borders, emphasized the importance of the sustainability of such initiatives.

The program concluded with the recognition of 28 participants, including five outstanding students who received awards for their exceptional contributions: Dareen Darweesh, Rozh Abdalla, Balen Abdallah, Narmin Ahmed, and Hilin Qadir.

The Wikipedia Translation Project is designed to equip students with translation expertise, media literacy, and teamwork skills essential for the digital age. The program empowers students to preserve and expand global access to Kurdish knowledge.