The University of Zakho, represented by three professors, participated in a project titled “TRANSITION / Safeguarding the Tangible and Intangible Cultural Heritage of Minority Communities in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and Yemen”. The project was held in Italy (Rome) and Portugal (Évora) over a period of five days, from 18 to 24 January 2026.

The project aimed to enhance specialized educational environments and academic collaboration in order to raise awareness of the importance of preserving both the tangible and intangible cultural heritage of minority communities. It is noteworthy that eight universities from the Kurdistan Region, Yemen, Italy, and Portugal took part in the initiative.

During the sessions, the participating university professors engaged in academic discussions with master’s and doctoral students in the host countries. Therefore, they focused on the challenges and obstacles facing efforts to preserve and revitalize the culture, beliefs, and civilizational heritage of minority groups.

Throughout the program, several projects were prepared, presented, and discussed, contributing to the exchange of expertise and the development of strategies for cultural heritage preservation.