Koya University Ranks First Public University in Kurdistan for Second Consecutive Year in 'GreenMetric' Sustainability Ranking

Koya University has achieved a remarkable milestone in the UI GreenMetric World University Rankings 2025, securing first place in the Kurdistan Region for the second time among all universities.

On Sunday, Dec 6, 2025, the UI GreenMetric International Ranking announced that Koya University had secured first place. The ranking, established by the University of Indonesia in 2010, assesses academic institutions’ commitment to eco-friendly policies and environmental protection.

Koya University has emerged as a leading institution in sustainability, evaluated across six main criteria: infrastructure, energy and climate change, waste management, water resources, transportation, and sustainability-focused education and research. This achievement reflects the university’s sustained efforts since its first inclusion in the ranking in 2024, as well as its selection as Iraq’s National Coordinator for the UI GreenMetric Ranking in March 2025.

Koya University, as an institution with a green and environmentally friendly strategic plan, reaffirms its commitment to global environmental sustainability and continued progress through national and international collaboration. The university extends its sincere congratulations to its academic and administrative staff, students, and the Kurdistan community on this achievement.

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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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