A student delegation consisting of undergraduate and postgraduate students from the Department of Politics and International Relations, the University of Kurdistan Hewler (UKH) visited the University of Amsterdam (UvA) in Holland within the framework of an annual exchange program.

Last year, a delegation from UvA paid a visit to the Kurdistan Region as the first step in the current exchange program, which is the first official academic exchange between a university in Iraq and a university in Holland.


This year participants were selected based on their academic performance and UKH partially funded trip-related expenses while UvA took care of the expenses in the Netherlands.


"The visit was very useful for exchanging views and promoting mutual understanding regarding many contemporary issues," said Hatm Ali, UKH third year student. "The program has increased our awareness, improved our academic skills and developed the potential leadership qualities."


"In fact the Program had lots of benefits for me," Arsalan Sadiq said. "Seeing the Netherlands was something new for me, however, I didn't face any academic and cultural shock due to the education we received at UKH. We also have gained further confidence in ourselves, as we realized that UKH is really good and competitive and provide world-class education.”


Ari Mamshae, the delegation’s leader, stated that the students met a number of academics and specialists. "On a daily basis we had classes offered by experts; for instance we had workshops on migration and multiculturalism, on political parties in the Netherlands," said Mr. Mamshae, adding: "We also had meetings with the head of Iraqi Desk in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the head of Foreign Affairs Committee of the Parliament's Second Chamber, European Parliament member in Brussels; we also visited the International Criminal Court, the European Parliament and European Commission and had discussions with civil society leaders, i.e., media and human rights organizations. In addition, we visited places that have a historic revolutionary imprint on the Dutch society, like the water pumping station of Cruquius Museum or the Anne Frank Museum."


Professor Serwan Baban, Vice Chancellor of UKH, indicated that UKH is a main source for educating and training young talents to become future leaders and to shape the future of Kurdistan region and beyond. Hence, UKH students are well placed to be enriched with and benefit, as evidently they have, from this international exchange programme with University of Amsterdam.


UKH is the First and only Public, English-medium, Independent, International University in Kurdistan and Iraq.