Commencement 2022: The Start of a Life Journey for 145 AUK Graduates

On June 7, 2022, The American University of Kurdistan held its third commencement, graduating 145 students in an event celebrated by parents, faculty and dignitaries at our campus in Duhok. Please click here to watch highlights of the event.

Delegation from Middle Tennessee State University Visits AUK

Within the framework of the U.S. State Department's grant to AUK, entitled "Support to American-Style Higher Education in Iraq," a delegation from The Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) visited AUK's campus in Duhok. The MTSU provides guidance to AUK in curriculum development, as well as helping AUK to fulfill accreditation requirements with The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). Earlier this year, during March 21-25, a team from the College of Arts and Sciences visited MTSU in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, as several AUK teams from the four colleges visited partner universities in the United States to advance work on collaborative degree programs, achieving accreditation at AUK and research collaboration.

AUK’s Student Government appoints Cabinet for 2022-23

AUK’s Office of Student Affairs announced the appointment of the Fifth Student Government Cabinet, presiding for 2022-23, and the adoption of a new structure for the Student Government. The Executive Committee (President, Vice-President, Treasurer and Secretary) were elected after submitting their nominations and completing the screening process. The remaining Cabinet positions were selected through application and interview. The structure of the Student Government (SG) has also changed to make it better aligned with American models of student governance in higher education. Two new committees have been created: The Programming Committee and The Student Support Committee. The new President is Aram Omer, student at the College of Business.

Ignite and Startup Incubator

In partnership with Five One Labs, AUK rolled out the Ignite and Startup Incubator at the University’s new Innovation and Entrepreneurship Lab. Funded by the U.S. State Department’s grant to AUK, entitled “Support to American-Style Higher Education in Iraq,” the Incubator serves students and entrepreneurs across all universities in Duhok. During June and July 2022, within the framework of the Ignite Program, four workshops will be held each week, with each session providing attendees with a comprehensive base of knowledge from which to launch and develop their startups. Upon completion, participants will have the opportunity to ‘pitch’ their projects in order to secure seed capital for their startup, and if successful, join the Startup Incubator.

AUK at HITEX: The Hawler Information Technology Exhibition

The AUK participated in the Hawler Information Technology Exhibition (HITEX) at the Erbil International Fairground, where hundreds of local and international ICT companies showcased their latest, and most cutting-edge, innovations. The Exhibition ran from June 27-30. Visitors have the opportunity to observe AUK’s student projects, learn about admission to AUK and different scholarship opportunities.

Meet Our Alumni

Maryna Sera 

B.Sc. in Computer Software

Graduated in 2022

 

Maryna recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Computer Software. She was the valedictorian of the College of Arts and Sciences at the 2022 Commencement Ceremony. While she studied at AUK, she developed three mobile applications.

 

How has AUK changed your life?
Moving to Duhok to pursue an academic career initially scared me, as I grew up in a small town, within a religious minority in Kurdistan. However, AUK helped me to overcome cultural obstacles, allowing me to integrate with campus life and fellow students. In a nutshell, AUK is as diverse and multicultural as Kurdistan and its inhabitants.

 

How has AUK changed your professional life?
In my first year at AUK, I initially studied business, however, I soon discovered my passion for programming. Fortunately, AUK gives students the flexibility to change their chosen major, and I switched to computer science, a subject I thought I would never study. I am grateful to AUK for the English language skills that I gained. The personal and professional development skills that I acquired at AUK will help me to become a professional in the ICT sector.

Meet our Staff: Kawa Safar

Kawa is a Senior Graphic Designer at AUK’s Office of Communications. An enthusiastic and high-spirited individual with over ten years of professional experience in the field of art production, Kawa is responsible for visual content on AUK’s social media platforms.

 

How did you discover your talents for digital art?
My family are mostly engineers, and it was geometry that caught my attention at first. I wanted to study architecture like my brother, but I did 

not have the necessary GPA after high school. So, I ended up studying agriculture while working on art privately. I chose digital over traditional art, largely because we live in an age dominated by computers.

 

Artists tend to be freethinkers, always looking for new adventures, while you have been at AUK for six years. Why?
Believe me, I face new challenges every day in my job at AUK. My responsibilities are diverse and I enjoy being able to practice my talents on a daily basis in performing different tasks. Of course, I receive much appreciation for my work at AUK, which is very satisfying.