News

Duhok, Kurdistan Region, April 23, 2026 – The Office of Student Affairs at the American University of Kurdistan, in collaboration with the Counseling Services at the American University of Beirut (AUB), hosted a webinar titled "Maximizing Online Learning in Challenging Times." The session was led by Nathalie Medlege, Clinical Supervisor at the Counseling Center at AUB.

The webinar brought together a strong turnout of AUK students and addressed practical strategies for navigating the academic demands of online learning during difficult circumstances. Topics included time management, maintaining focus during virtual classes, and managing stress while studying — skills that have become increasingly essential for students facing academic and personal pressures.

Student feedback following the session was overwhelmingly positive. Participants noted that the webinar offered concrete tools to help them stay on track academically while also taking care of their mental well-being.

Yelena Sardaryan, Director of the Office of Student Affairs at AUK, emphasized the significance of the collaboration: "Mental health is of prime importance for student success, and times of crisis only make its relevance more visible. It takes a whole community to raise awareness and create meaningful change in how mental health is understood and supported. We are grateful for the collaboration with AUB Counseling Services. Their team has been exemplary in their willingness to support us and contribute to building a stronger culture of care at AUK."

The event reflects AUK's ongoing commitment to student wellbeing as a core dimension of academic life, and its dedication to forging meaningful partnerships with peer institutions in the region to serve its student community.