International Workshop at Koya University Discusses the Restoration and Adaptive Reuse of Historical Buildings in the Kurdistan Region

The Department of Architectural Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering, Koya University, organized an international workshop on Monday, December 22, 2025, titled: "Restoration and Adaptive Reuse for Heritage Buildings in Kurdistan Region." This event aligns with the "Community Service" and "Research and Innovation" pillars of Koya University’s Strategic Plan (2023-2027).

The workshop was attended by the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Asst. Prof. Dr. Galawizh Bakr Bapir, the District Governor of Koya, Judge Tariq Haidari, alongside directors of relevant administrative departments, faculty members, and students. The sessions focused on international standards for conserving architectural heritage and innovative strategies to repurpose historic structures to meet modern societal needs while preserving their cultural significance.

Koya University is the first academic institution in Kurdistan to launch a comprehensive Strategic Plan (September 2023) consisting of seven core pillars. One of the primary pillars, "Community Outreach," aims to enhance the university's impact by integrating with society and addressing its multi-dimensional needs. Through such international academic platforms, the university continues its mission to safeguard cultural identity and contribute to building a stronger, more prosperous community.

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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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