The International Research Symposium: “Tracing Educational Trajectories”

On April 29th, 2023, a multidisciplinary and international symposium on the History of Education and Minorities in Iraq, bringing together researchers from Germany and Austria started at the CUE campus. The symposium is a result of CUE partnership with The Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, University of Graz, Salahaddin University and is supported by DAAD and AGYA.

The presentations started with a brief speech from Dr. Nazar Shabila, CUE President, as His Excellency welcomed all the attendants to the CUE campus.

Dr. Benjamin Weineck (Heidelberg University – Germany) started the first panel discussions, as he delivered a presentation on “Tracing Education Policies & Institutions in Ottoman Iraq”; Dr. Rabeah Fatah, (Salahaddin University -Iraq) discussed her topic on “History of education in the city of Koysanjak”; Dr. Omar Abdulwahhab (Tishk International University -Iraq) also conducted a presentation on “Education in Mosul during the Ottoman era”; and Prof. Dr. Barbara Henning (JGU Mainz -Germany) concluded panel 1 with her presentation on “A microhistory of the Ottoman military school in Suleimani and its networks.

Panel 2 discussion continued with the topic of “History of schools and education processes in Erbil” which was conducted by prof. Snur Sabah (Salahaddin University – Iraq); as well as “Minority education and marginalized education in Western Europe and in Iraq” delivered by Dr. Wilfried Göttlicher (Graz University – Austria); followed by “Politics of Education, minoritization of Kurds in Iraqi Textbooks” by Prof. Sherko Kirmanj (Koya University – Iraq). After the two panels, the first day of symposium was closed with the third panel, where Dr. Luise Fischer (University of Leipzig – Germany) delivered a presentation on “Understanding and navigating the role(s) of higher education. Approaches to inquiry and potential implications”; followed by a presentation on “The power of education. Tracing the history of women’s access to higher education in Iraq” conducted by Dr. Mohammed Al -Neama (University of Mosul- Iraq); as well as Dr. Heike Wendt’s (Graz University (Austria) “Access and barriers to higher education for Yazidi minority student s in Iraq” presentation; and lastly “The higher education system in Kurdistan Region: the reform process and challenges” delivered by Ms. Bareen Haval & Dr. Araz Rajab (Duhok Polytechnic University- Iraq).

The symposium’s panel discussions will continue throughout day 2 and will be closed on day 3 which marks May 1st, 2023.