On Tuesday, October 6, 2026, the Bologna Process and Curriculum Development Committee at the University of Zakho held its regular meeting in the presence of Asst. Prof. Dr. Jasim Mohammed Abdo, Vice President of the University for Scientific Affairs and Postgraduate Studies, and Asst. Prof. Dr. Ramadan Jaafar Mustafa, Vice President of the University for Student Affairs.

The meeting addressed several important issues related to the implementation of the Bologna Process and the development of academic programmes, resulting in a number of decisions and recommendations aimed at improving the university’s educational framework.

Key Topics Discussed 1. Bologna Process Guidelines and Scientific Research

The first agenda item focused on clarifying the key guidelines of the Bologna Process. The committee decided that the relevant guidelines and requirements should be explained to all academic departments across the university.

It was further agreed that the Bologna Process guidelines would be comprehensively presented to department heads, academic staff, and students across all scientific departments to ensure a consistent understanding and effective implementation of the system.

The committee also discussed the scientific research requirements for fourth-year students, particularly the procedures for preparing and writing research projects. A decision was made to move the scientific research course from the seventh semester to the sixth semester.

2. Curriculum Development and Integration of Practical Courses

The second agenda item focused on reviewing the curriculum of each academic department as a fundamental resource for advancing academic standards and improving the quality of educational programmes across the university.

The committee also discussed two courses designated by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research: Career Development and Entrepreneurship Development. Discussions focused on integrating these courses into departmental curricula and ensuring their practical implementation in accordance with the academic requirements of each department.

The importance of these courses for all academic disciplines was emphasized, along with the need to determine the appropriate semester in which each course should be offered.

Furthermore, the committee highlighted the importance of standardizing the course information by specifying the title of each course in Kurdish, Arabic, and English, assigning the corresponding course codes, and determining the number of European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) credits allocated to each course.

These measures are intended to enhance curriculum consistency, strengthen practical learning, and align academic programmes with the requirements of the Bologna Process.