On February 25, 2025, the International Relations and Diplomacy Department at Tishk International University organized a scientific visit to the Department of Foreign Relations (DFR) of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), Iraq. The trip included second, third, and fourth-grade students and several faculty members. The team, led by the Head of Department, Dr. Mohammad Salih Mustafa, was warmly received by the Adviser of the Department of Foreign Relations, Dr. Saman Sorani, and the Head of the Department, Mr. Safeen Dizayee.
Dr. Mohammad Salih Mustafa introduced the IRD team to the DFR officials, explaining that the purpose of the visit was to blend theoretical knowledge with practical experience. This initiative aimed to broaden students’ understanding of the DFR’s functions and the overall process of foreign policy making and implementation.
Dr. Saman Sorani extended a welcoming hand to the visiting team and provided a detailed explanation of the history and rationale behind the establishment of the Department of Foreign Relations. He elaborated on its duties and the role of the 14 KRG representatives abroad. Dr. Sorani explained that the DFR is mandated to promote the interests of the Kurdistan Region and its people in relations with the international community, in accordance with the Region’s legislation and the Constitution of the Republic of Iraq. He further contextualized the rise of the KRG in the spring of 1991, which marked the birth of the Kurdistan Regional Government. Following the official collapse of the Ba’ath regime, the Kurdistan government was strengthened in all aspects of diplomacy and economy. Consequently, the KRG officially established the Department of Foreign Relations in 2006. Dr. Sorani made specific mention of the 14 KRG representatives abroad, which include offices in Australia, Austria, the European Union, France, Germany, Iran, Italy, Poland, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.
The IRD team was then taken on a comprehensive tour of the various directorates and sections within the Department of Foreign Relations. This included the Legal Directorate, Documents and Authentication Section, Administration and Finance Directorate, Human Resources Section, Employment Records Section, Library, Directorate of Quality Assurance, Directorate of European Affairs, International Relations Office, Directorate of Protocol, American Affairs Directorate, and the Directorates of Asian & Australian Affairs and Arab & African Affairs. This firsthand experience provided students with a deeper understanding of the organizational structure and functional complexity of a foreign relations department.
Keywords: Scientific Trip, Foreign Relations, Diplomacy, Tishk International University, Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), DFR, Foreign Policy, Student Engagement, Education, Theory and Practice, Global Affairs, KRG Representatives, Kurdistan, Iraq
