Koya University as a Pioneering and Sustainable Institution Records New History by Winning Athar Award

Koya University participated in the Athar Award ceremony, making history by winning first place in Kurdistan and second among Iraqi government universities.

On Monday, October 27, 2025, a Koya University delegation led by President Prof. Dr. Mohammed H.S. Zangana, along with the Vice President for Student Affairs Asst. Prof. Dr. Ajeen Saber Taher, Director of Media Directorate, Asst. Lect. Muhammed Karim Saedgul attended the Athar Award ceremony in Baghdad, recognizing university initiatives in environmental sustainability.

The Ministry of Environment of Iraq launched this award to encourage universities and academic institutions to advance environmental protection and sustainable development.

Koya University, a dynamic Kurdish institution and pioneer of the 'Green University' initiative with a strategic plan of seven pillars, continues to excel in environmental sustainability and aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Recently, a specialized committee from Iraq’s Ministries of Environment and Higher Education evaluated the university’s initiatives, resulting in Koya University winning the Athar Award, first place in Kurdistan, and second among Iraqi government universities.

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Koya University (KOU) is located in the city of Koya (Koy Sanjaq) which is 1.0 hr drive to the East of the Kurdistan Region capital Erbil (Arbil, Hewlér) in Kurdistan Region of F.R. Iraq. It is on the foothills of a beautiful high mountain. Its campus has been carefully laid out to embrace the beautiful mountainous nature.

There are 4 Faculties and 2 Schools in KOU; Faculty of Engineering (FENG), Faculty of Science and Health (FSCH), Faculty of Education (FEDU), Faculty of Humanities and Social Silences (FHSS), Shcool of Physical Education (SPHE) and School of Medicine (SMED).

Also, there are two research centers; Genome Center and Malai Gawra Center. Moreover, at KOU there is an English Language Center (BELC) at KOU has been opened with the sponsorship of IREX and American embassy in Baghdad as well as with the support of Spring International Language Center of The University of Arkansas. KOU has two Scientific Journals; ARO-The Scientific Journal of Koya University, which is indexed by Clarivate Analytics (ESCI), and Koya University Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences (KUJHSS). KOU is a proactive member of Erasmus/ Marhaba Project and Erasmus+.

KOU signed many Memorandum of Understandings (MoU) with many International Universities, e.g., The University of Arkansas (June 2015). The Lulea University in Sweden (April 2014), The University of Nottingham in the UK, The University of Buckingham in the UK (Oct 2008), Belkin University in Turkey (Sep 2009) The University of Greenwich in the UK, Cihan University-Erbil (2021) and Tishk International University (2021).

Koya University is a memebr of The Association of Arab Universities and the International Association of Universities.

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