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Yearly Archives: 2026

Erbil Polytechnic University  > Blog  > 2026
Author chalak moussa Categories Mergasor Technical Institute

Oak Trees: Resilient Against Fire and FellingScientific Panel on Oak Heritage Preservation Held at Mergasur Technical InstituteOn Tuesday, December 23, 2025, Mergasur Technical Institute hosted a high-level scientific panel discussion titled “Preserving the Oak Heritage in Kurdistan: The Barzan Region as a Model.” The event was held under the theme: “Oak trees shall not perish by fire nor by felling.”The event was attended by several prominent figures, including:

  • Asst. Prof. Dr. Talib Mohammed Sharif, Dean of Mergasur Technical Institute.
  • Prof. Dr. Edrees Mohammed Tahir Harki, President of Erbil Polytechnic University.
  • Dr. Khanzad Ahmad, Secretary General of the High Council of Women and Development.
  • Members of Parliament, academic personalities, and government and political officials.
    Opening Remarks by the Dean
    The ceremony commenced with a welcoming speech by Asst. Prof. Dr. Talib Mohammed Sharif, Dean of the Institute. In his address, he emphasized the vital role of the Oak tree in Kurdish identity:

“Our strategy at Erbil Polytechnic University and Mergasur Technical Institute is to serve as a scientific hub that addresses community challenges through research. This panel, organized by our Department of Herbal Medicine, highlights the environmental, medicinal, nutritional, and cultural significance of the Oak tree.”

The Dean further noted that environmental protection in the Barzan region is a century-old legacy rooted in the leadership of the Barzan Sheikhs, from Sheikh Abdulselam Barzani to President Masoud Barzani, who famously stated: “The people of Kurdistan are like Oak trees.”
Keynote Addresses
Following the Dean, Prof. Dr. Edrees Mohammed Tahir Harki (President of EPU) and Hakeem Teli (Deputy Supervisor of the Soran Independent Administration) delivered speeches. They focused on the historical importance of Oak forests in Kurdistan’s ecosystem and their symbolic status in the Barzan area.
The Scientific Panel
The core of the event featured a specialized discussion moderated by Abdulrahman Ali Mohammed, an expert in public policy and strategic planning. The panel included:

  1. Asst. Prof. Dr. Hadar Sayid Faizi: Head of the Environmental Department at the University of Duhok.
  2. Dr. Hardi Kakakhan Awla: Lecturer at the College of Agriculture, Salahaddin University.
  3. Fakhir Mela Ali: Researcher and Specialist.
    The discussions linked traditional knowledge with modern research frameworks, aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goal 15 (Life on Land) and the Kurdistan Regional Government’s “Green Development” strategies.
    Cultural Segment and Closing
    The event also featured a literary segment where poems dedicated to the Oak tree were recited:
  • Poet Hazim Blayi performed two original poems.
  • Evan Sardar, a nursing student at the Institute, recited a poem by the artist Kazim Koyee.
    The ceremony concluded with the distribution of certificates of appreciation to the moderator and the panelists for their contributions to environmental advocacy and academic discourse.

Media Department Mergasur Technical Institute

Author Pawan mohamed Categories presidency

Erbil Polytechnic University achieved a new international accomplishment.

We proudly announced that the EPU ACI Student Chapter received the Outstanding Student Chapter award in the 2025 ACI annual awards program.

This great achievement, which was recorded for the third consecutive year, was a clear sign of the high scientific level of the students and the continuous academic activities of our university at the international level. It was also a source of pride that it was the only chapter that achieved this high rank for three consecutive years.

This great success was the result of the continuous support of Edrees Mohammed Tahir Harki, Rector of Erbil Polytechnic University, along with the university staff.

The volunteer students worked very hard, and their efforts succeeded. They worked continuously to make their university more respected.

We expressed our sincere thanks and appreciation to all members and partners.Erbil Polytechnic University continued to provide an ideal academic environment to develop the skills and abilities of the students.

Author Pawan mohamed Categories presidency

new step toward internationalizing higher education; Erbil Polytechnic University hosted the Director of the Union of Mediterranean Universities.

On Wednesday, February 16, 2026, within the framework of the university’s efforts to further open up to global academic institutions, Prof. Dr. Edrees Mohammed Taher Harki, Rector of Erbil Polytechnic University, welcomed Ms. Silvia Marconi, Director of the Union of Mediterranean Universities and Coordinator of the Italian RISE Project. The meeting took place in the presence of Prof. Dr. Azad Hassan Qadir, Vice Rector for Administrative and Financial Affairs; Asst. Prof. Dr. Botan Majid Asangar, Vice Rector for Scientific Affairs and Higher Education; and Asst. Prof. Dr. Abdullah, Director of the University’s International Relations.

The main purpose of the visit was to develop and strengthen academic relations between our university and universities in the Mediterranean region. In this context, the Rector emphasized that Erbil Polytechnic University always supported and cooperated in organizing such international activities and gave special importance to expanding scientific relations. At the same time, he expressed hope that this meeting became a foundation stone for creating stronger coordination and scientific exchange in the future.

As part of the visit program, and in coordination with the University’s International Relations Department, Ms. Marconi delivered a special seminar in the university’s conference hall entitled “Internationalization of Higher Education Strategy: Challenges and Practices.” The seminar, which was attended by several members of the University Council, lecturers, and staff, highlighted the importance of internationalizing the education process and addressing the challenges faced in this field.

 

 

Author Pawan mohamed Categories Uncategorized

A lecturer from our university participated in an American international webinar about education and job opportunities for refugees.

As part of opening our university to international academic centers and actively participating in current issues, Dr. Salar Osman Ali, a lecturer at the Erbil Technical Administrative College, participated as a guest speaker in an international webinar organized by the journal (PLAIO) at Empire State University in the USA. The main topic of the webinar was discussing policies and practical approaches to the assessment of Prior Learning (PLA) as a gateway to providing education and job opportunities for refugees in the countries where they lived.

During the panel, Dr. Salar presented a joint research paper with Professor Rudolf Duvicott from NCOI University in the Netherlands. They highlighted the importance of the “Human Resource Management” program as an alternative to formal education for refugees. This topic was an important part of the CAMPLUS project, which was supported by the Erasmus Program of the European Union (2021–2024). They also emphasized the role of universities in developing refugees’ skills through training courses.

 

It is worth mentioning that our university always gave special attention to such scientific and international activities as part of its strategy. The university continuously supported and cooperated with its lecturers and researchers to deliver the academic voice of the university to international platforms.

You could watch the full webinar at the link below. 

PLAIO Webinar, Jan. 28, 2026: Prior Learning and Refugee, Migrant, Displaced, and Stateless People

 

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