On Tuesday the 8th of December 2015, the KRG Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research announced for the first time in its history a National University Ranking for the Kurdistan Region. With the presence of the Deputy Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Mr. Qubad Talabani, the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Dr. Yusif Goran, a large number of Members of the KRG Parliament, Presidents and Vice Presidents of almost all universities in the Kurdistan Region, and consuls of several countries this event took place, where several speeches were presented. In his speech, Mr. Qubad Talabani congratulated the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research for the implementation of this important project and also thanked all participating universities for their efforts in developing the higher education sector in the Kurdistan Region.

Subsequently, Dr. Yusif Goran focused in his speech on the importance of a developed higher education system in order to pave the way for an adequate nation- building. Aiming to enhance a healthy competition between the universities and to motivate and stimulate the universities in the Kurdistan Region to enrich their scientific researches on an international level, the ministry has made a huge effort in realizing this project. Dr. Yusif Goran further argued that this project has a significant role on the decision- making process and the reformation of the higher education system in the Kurdistan Region.

Explaining the system of the university ranking, Dr. Yousif Goran clarified that public universities were separated from private universities, and the both were categorized into four groups, including Group A as the best, Group B as the second best, Group C, and Group D. Not any university was ranked into Group A because this high level has not been reached yet. Within each other group, there is no specified ranking among the universities but only an English alphabetical order. Only two universities in the Kurdistan Region requested not to participate in the national ranking for this year, including the American University Duhok Kurdistan (AUDK), due to the fact that it was newly established, and also the University of Kurdistan Hewlêr. Generally, 26 public and private universities participated in the national ranking. This project was led by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in cooperation with a number of international organisations.

The results of the National University Ranking in 2015 for the Kurdistan Region:

1. Public Universities:

Group A: Not any university has reached this high level

Group B: Koya University, Salahaddin University-Erbil, Soran University, University of Sulaimani, University of Zakho

Group C: University of Duhok, University of Garmian, Hawler Medical University, University of Raparin

Group D: Charmo University, Duhok Polytechnic University, Erbil Polytechnic University, Halabja Polytechnic University, Sulaimani Polytechnic University

2. Private Universities:

Group A: Not any university has reached this high level

Group B: American University of Iraq- Sulaimani, Cihan University- Sulaimaniya, University of Human Development

Group C: Cihan University- Erbil, Ishik University Erbil, Komar University of Science and Technology, Nawroz University

Group D: Bayan University, Cihan University- Duhok, Hayat Private University for Science and Technology, Lebanese French University, SABIS® University

According to Mr. Abbas Akram, the KRG Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research’s Spokesman, all the data from the participating universities was assessed within a transparent electronic system. Moreover, there were many different evaluation criteria in this project, including the number and the level of researches, the number of professors and students, the level of quality assurance’s implementation, the universities’ infrastructure level, standards of developing education curriculum, the existence of special research centers as well as scientific magazines, and scientific activities locally and internationally.

The President of the University of Zakho, Assist. Prof. Dr. Lazgin Abdi Jamil, was very delighted about this new project because it is a new experience as being the first National University Ranking in the Kurdistan Region. Furthermore, Assist. Prof. Dr. Lazgin Abdi Jamil complimented the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research for their huge effort in realizing this project, in order to encourage all universities in the region to develop and, finally, to reach higher international levels. He also mentioned that he was highly satisfied with the obtained rank of the University of Zakho and also warmly thanks all his academic staff members and employees for achieving this result. Moreover, the efforts of the UoZ Committee for the National University Ranking 2015 were honored by the President of the University of Zakho. Taking into account the fact that the University of Zakho is counted as one of the newly established universities in the Kurdistan Region, Assist. Prof. Dr. Lazgin Abdi Jamil concluded that this result can be seen as a tremendous success for the university.