Erbil, May 29, 2025 – The inaugural Iraq Political Science Day, hosted by the University of Kurdistan Hewlêr (UKH), successfully brought together scholars from eight leading Iraqi universities for a comprehensive day of academic exchange. The event featured 21 research presentations across five panel sessions and concluded with a high-level discussion panel.

Key Highlights

Scientific Committee Members:

The conference was organized by ten distinguished academics, including Dr. Mohammad Salih, Head of the International Relations and Diplomacy Department at Tishk International University. The full committee included:

  • Dr. Martin Beck (Professor, UKH)
  • Dr. Elizabeth Bishop (Dean, AUIB)
  • Dr. Hisham Ezz El-Din (Assistant Professor, University of Baghdad)
  • Dr. Muslih Irwani (Associate Professor, AUIB)
  • Dr. Jalal Mistaffa (Dean, University of Sulaimani)
  • Dr. Beastun Omer Nuri (Head of IR Department, Salahaddin University)
  • Dr. Mohammad Salih (Head of IRD, Tishk International University)
  • Muhammad Sharif Ebrahimi (Head of IR Department, Catholic University in Erbil)
  • Dr. Thomas Schmidinger (Associate Professor, UKH)
  • Dr. Hala S. Yousif (Professor, University of Baghdad)

Academic Program:

The intensive day-long program (9:00 AM – 7:00 PM) included:

  • Five thematic panel sessions covering: International Political Economy, Regional Politics, Governance, Iraqi Society and Politics, and The Kurdistan Region and Disputed Territories.
  • 21 research presentations by scholars and students.
  • A concluding discussion panel on “Political Science in Iraq – State of the Art.”

Participating Universities:

The event fostered collaboration among eight universities, including the host and next year’s host.

  • University of Kurdistan Hewlêr (Host)
  • University of Baghdad
  • American University of Iraq-Baghdad (AUIB) – 2026 host
  • University of Sulaimani
  • Salahaddin University-Erbil
  • Tikrit University
  • Catholic University in Erbil
  • Tishk International University (TIU)

TIU’s Contributions and Future Outlook

Dr. Mohammad Salih‘s active participation on both the Scientific Committee and as a panelist underscored TIU’s commitment to strengthening political science education and fostering academic collaboration across Iraq. The conference successfully established a platform for ongoing academic dialogue and exchange.

The event concluded with the announcement that the American University of Iraq-Baghdad (AUIB) will host the second Iraq Political Science Day in 2026, ensuring the continuation of this important academic initiative.

Keywords: Iraq Political Science Day, Tishk International University, UKH, AUIB, Academic Exchange, Political Science, International Relations, Scientific Committee, Research, University Collaboration, Kurdistan