AUK Receives Fifth U.S. Department of State Grant to Strengthen American-Style Higher Education in Iraq

Duhok, Kurdistan Region – October 29, 2024 – The American University of Kurdistan (AUK) has secured a new $2.1 million grant from the United States Department of State (DOS) under the “Supporting American-Style Higher Education in Iraq” initiative. This recent award aims to deepen AUK’s commitment to educational excellence and extend critical resources that foster academic advancement, accreditation, technological integration, and sustainability-focused projects. This grant raises the level of support from the DOS to a total of $17.1 million since 2020.

Key objectives for this grant include:

Enhancing Accreditation and Institutional Capacity: The University will collaborate with U.S. partners to obtain U.S. accreditation for the institution and academic programs and elevate faculty and staff professional development.
Expanding Access and Diversity: This initiative broadens educational opportunities by providing support that enhances access and inclusion for women, low-income students, and those from diverse groups.
Promoting Clean Energy and Environmental Stewardship: In alignment with sustainable practices, the grant will fund the establishment of a solar-focused learning lab and campus-based solar projects. These initiatives will enable students to study solar energy and renewable technologies while advancing environmental awareness within the community.
Fostering Entrepreneurship: The grant supports the establishment of Impact Hub Duhok, which will be an open workspace for those with ideas for start-ups and need coaching in developing their business and products.
Upgrading Technological Infrastructure: AUK will continue to acquire advanced technologies for teaching and learning to enhance the classroom experience and facilitate collaborative teaching.
The grant also provides completion grant funding for current DOS scholarship students at AUK, who are unable to finish their degrees within the period covered by previous grants.

The American University of Kurdistan’s mission is to adopt American best practices, adapt them to the regional context, and then disseminate throughout the higher education ecosystem. Through initiatives such as the establishment of Impact Hub Duhok, the Solar Learning Lab, and introduction of new technologies in the classroom, AUK will continue to be a leader in education.

AUK selects the recipients of the U.S. Department of State (DoS) Scholarship