Graduation Projects Expo Interviews for Spring
The Graduation Projects Expo, held on April 30, 2023, cast a spotlight on the senior theses and capstone projects at the American University of Kurdistan (AUK). These seniors represented three departments within AUK’s College of Arts and Sciences: Computer Science and Information Technology; International Studies; and Design. AUK Content Writer Michael Collins conducted interviews with three of the Expo’s participants. The texts for the three interviews appear below. There is one from each of the departments, and each consists of five questions. Please enjoy what our students had to say about their research!
Sahar Mahmood Ossman Halo, Department of Computer Science and Information Technology
Topic: “Mind Pill: Working with the Mind”
What made you choose this topic?
“I am very passionate about this topic because mental health is just as important as physical health, and there should be more technology assisting those in need of mental health support.”
What was the hardest part of your project?
“The hardest thing for me was managing the project resources, including money, time, technology, and human resources. It was tough talking to several therapists and then synthesizing their sometimes discordant views into useful insights on my app.”
When did you have the most fun doing your project?
“Just brainstorming in general to come up with features for my app was fun. I was sometimes inspired by my conversations with therapists.”
Why do you think your topic is important for others to know about?
“Mental health issues are more common than most people think. Therefore, it is essential for everyone to have a basic understanding of mental health and potential supports for those in need of them.”
What is one simple thing everyone can do to strengthen their mental health?
“Do not dwell on negative experiences. Focus on the positive aspects of your life today, and you may soon find that your life tomorrow has even more positives.”
Nigeen Seido, Department of International Studies
Topic: “Gender Equality and Politics: Do Kurds Accept Women and Men Equally in Politics?”
What made you choose this topic?
“I want to evaluate scientifically the role of women in Kurdish politics and determine the barriers against their equal participation.”
What was the hardest part of your project?
“The hardest part was gathering my data, because I needed Members of Parliament and Ministers to fill out surveys. Also, I did some interviews. It took me over one month to do this, and I needed documentation from AUK and some assistance from friends to contact the participants.”
When did you have the most fun doing your project?
“I had the most fun when I was reading the replies from the people I asked to fill out my survey. Many of them also gave me kind words of encouragement.”
Why do you think your topic is important for others to know about?
“I believe equal participation of women and men in politics is a sign of a healthy democracy, and it is also connected with economic growth. Generally speaking, gender equality is good for society.”
Your project belongs to the Department of International Studies. What is another country you think has already done a great job with gender equality and why?
“There are some countries, like Norway and Ireland, that have achieved gender equality in terms of participation in parliament. However, there are many aspects to political equality, and there is still a way to go even in those countries.”
Aya Ayad Hussein, Department of Design
Topic: “The Impact of Braille Language Concepts in Interiors to Enhance Communities of People with Special Needs”
What made you choose this topic?
“Blindness is a serious disability in terms of navigating interior spaces, and I wanted to work out some design principles to help the visually impaired be as independent as possible.”
What was the hardest part of your project?
“The hardest part was figuring out how to design a space for a person who could not see the space himself, and that is how I came up with the Braille concept, the importance of which I went on to explain in the written portion of my project. I ended up researching ways to take advantage of and sharpen the other senses of the visually impaired.”
When did you have the most fun doing your project?
“I had a chance to meet some visually impaired people and talk to them. I could hear from them personally what their challenges were, and their answers informed my design choices.”
Why do you think your topic is important for others to know about?
“It is one small step toward having more equality of opportunity in society, since it will give the visually impaired greater access to spaces.”
Have you tried to learn Braille, sign language, or any other form of communication for people with disabilities?
“During this project, I researched many projects with Braille, and I learned to recognize several Braille letters myself.”
The students who presented at the Graduation Projects Expo deserve commendation for their efforts. The above students were chosen because their projects represent a suitable cross-section of the work being done by students at AUK. Also, their respective topics (mental health, gender equality, and disability support) reflect institutional action priorities. Thank you for your tireless work, Class of 2023 of the American University of Kurdistan!