On 29–30 September 2025, two meetings were held at the University of Zakho to validate the Internationalization and Employability Roadmaps of the University. The sessions took place under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Diyar Abdulkareem Saeed, President of the University of Zakho, with the attendance of Asst. Prof. Dr. Jasim Abdo, Vice President for Scientific Affairs; Asst. Prof. Dr. Ramadhan J. Mstafa, Vice President for Student Affairs; Dr. Nizar Ismat Ali, Director of the International Relations Office; Mr. Lawend Ikram Mohammed, Director of the CDC Center; along with academic staff members, International Relations staff, CDC staff, students, and a number of stakeholders.
The primary objective of the meetings was to review and validate the strategic roadmaps targeting Internationalization and Employability at the University of Zakho. Following this validation, several strategic actions have been implemented, including:
1. Annual organization of International Student Week at University of Zakho
2. Establishment of a Student Alumni Network
3. Development of mobility programs with foreign universities
4. Enhanced cooperation with private sector partners
5. Annual organization of a Job Fair
6. Collaboration between the International Relations Office and the CDC Center
7. Support for innovative research initiatives
8. Invitations extended to foreign researchers and lecturers to the University of Zakho
9. Strengthening the link between academic programs and the labor market
The validation of these two roadmaps was officially validated by the President of the University of Zakho.
It is worth mentioning that this initiative is part of the RISE project funded by the European Union. This project involves seven Kurdish universities and two European universities, coordinated by the Mediterranean Universities Union (UNIMED) based in Italy. The overarching objective of the RISE project is to enhance the internationalization and employability capacities of the partner Kurdish universities.