Koya University President Receives Delegation from Dutch Consulate General

In a bid to strengthen academic relations and international cooperation, the President of Koya University, Professor Dr. Mohammed H. S. Zangana, received a high-level delegation from the Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Kurdistan Region on Thursday, July 17, 2025, during an official meeting held at the university's presidential headquarters.

The Dutch delegation was headed by Ms. Britrighe Snouwer, Deputy Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Kurdistan Region, who attended with an accompanying delegation comprising several officials and specialists in the field of academic and developmental cooperation.

The meeting witnessed distinguished attendance from the academic side, with participation from members of the Koya University Council, alongside the university's Director of Relations and the Director of the Koya University Work Center. From the Dutch side, the meeting was attended by Nali Youssef, Economic and Political Officer at the Dutch Consulate General, as well as the Director of Wedo Company, an important partner in joint development projects.

The meeting discussions focused on reviewing existing joint projects and activities between Koya University and companies and organizations affiliated with the Dutch Consulate General. The "CoCreateMyCity" project received considerable attention during the discussions, being regarded as an exemplary model of constructive cooperation between Kurdish academic institutions and specialized Dutch entities.

Participants reviewed the achievements realized within the framework of this project, which aims to develop local capacities in urban planning and sustainable development, with emphasis on engaging the local community in the construction and development process.

Professor Dr. Mohammed H. S. Zangana presented a comprehensive overview of Koya University's strategic plan, highlighting the university's future vision and its role in serving the local and regional community. The university president outlined the practical steps being taken by the university to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations, emphasizing institutional commitment to international standards in higher education and scientific research.

The discussion also addressed how to integrate sustainable development principles into academic and research programs, and ways to utilize advanced Dutch expertise in this field to develop local capacities and enhance the university's positive impact on society.

This meeting took place on the sidelines of the closing ceremony of the "CoCreateMyCity" project, an ambitious initiative implemented by Koya University in cooperation with international and local partners. This project represents the fruit of fruitful collaboration between the Koya University Work Center and Wedo Company, executed under the direct supervision of the Dutch Consulate General in the Kurdistan Region.

This meeting comes within the framework of ongoing efforts to strengthen strategic partnership between academic institutions in the Kurdistan Region and their counterparts in the Netherlands, serving sustainable development goals and contributing to building local capacity. This cooperation also reflects the growing interest from the Dutch government in supporting development and education projects in the region.

These initiatives demonstrate the important role that universities play in building bridges of international cooperation and promoting cultural and scientific exchange, thereby contributing to achieving comprehensive and sustainable development for local communities.

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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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