On Tuesday, 25 November 2025, a group of fourth-year students from the Department of Medical Biochemical Analysis at Cihan University–Erbil went to Binai High School for Girls as part of their community engagement activities, under the supervision of the Head of Department, Assistant Lecturer Mr. Hawri Fatih Sami. Upon arrival, they were warmly received by the school principal, Ms. Bana Rahman.
A seminar titled “Social Media and Its Impact on Students’ Lives” was delivered by student Salih Shwan on behalf of the group. The session covered different types of social media platforms and their influence on student behavior, mental health, academic concentration, and social interactions. The speaker also highlighted both the positive aspects of digital communication and the potential risks, including cyberbullying, overuse, distraction, and misinformation.
The seminar also emphasized the importance of using social media responsibly, setting time limits, prioritizing real-life communication, and verifying the credibility of online content. The interactive nature of the session allowed high school students to ask questions and share their experiences, leading to meaningful discussions.
The school administration praised the students for their clear communication and valuable guidance, emphasizing the importance of such awareness programs.
On Monday, October 6, 2025, a group of fourth-year students from the Department of Medical Biochemical Analysis at Cihan University–Erbil visited Barz Private High School to conduct a health awareness activity titled: Smoking: Its Types and Consequences.
The university students, under the supervision of Assistant Lecturer Hawri Fatih, Head of the Department of Medical Biochemical Analysis, were warmly received by Mr. Rasti Ghafur, the school principal. In his welcoming remarks, Mr. Ghafur commended the students for promoting cooperation between higher education institutions and schools.
Following the reception, Salih Shwan, a student from the Department of Medical Biochemical Analysis, presented the seminar in the school hall. He clearly described the various forms of smoking, including conventional cigarettes, cigars, hookahs, heated tobacco products (IQOS), and electronic cigarettes (vapes). Salih Shwan emphasized that all these products contain more than 7,000 toxic chemical substances, such as nicotine, tar, formaldehyde, lead, and carbon monoxide. He scientifically explained the harmful effects of these substances on overall health, particularly on the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, noting that they reduce oxygen levels in the blood, destroy lung and heart cells, alter brain chemistry, and cause genetic mutations that significantly increase the risk of cancer.
In another part of his presentation, addressing the high school students, Salih Shwan clarified that electronic cigarettes are not a safe alternative. He explained that vaping causes oxidative stress, DNA damage, and weakens the immune system.
The seminar concluded with practical advice on quitting all forms of smoking, emphasizing the importance of adopting a smoke-free lifestyle to protect both general and biochemical health.
On Sunday, October 12, 2025, a group of fourth-stage students from the Department of Medical Biochemical Analysis at Cihan University–Erbil conducted a community-oriented educational visit to Diako Educational Complex under the supervision of Assistant Lecturer Abdullah Jawdat.
The students were warmly received by the principal, Ms. Nazhat Hassan Abobakir, who praised the university’s efforts to promote student-led health education initiatives. During the visit, student Dalya Dler delivered an insightful seminar titled “The Hidden Dangers of Soft and Energy Drinks on Human Health.” Her presentation shed light on the biochemical and physiological effects of excessive consumption of these popular beverages, raising awareness among young students about the risks hidden behind their everyday drink choices.
Additionally, she explained that soft drinks contain high levels of sugar, caffeine, phosphoric acid, and artificial additives, which may lead to tooth decay, vitamin depletion, and calcium loss—ultimately resulting in weakened bones and an increased risk of osteoporosis. She also discussed how the phosphoric acid in these drinks affects calcium absorption, while excessive caffeine can cause sleep disturbances, anxiety, elevated heart rate, and reduced iron levels.
The seminar also addressed the dangers of energy drinks, which often contain taurine, guarana, and ginseng extracts. These compounds can overstimulate the nervous system, elevate blood pressure, and increase the risk of heart disease and hormonal imbalance, particularly when consumed regularly.
She concluded her seminar by urging students to make smarter beverage choices by opting for healthier alternatives such as water, fresh fruit juices, milk, yogurt, and herbal teas. She highlighted that staying properly hydrated not only boosts metabolism and enhances concentration but also plays a vital role in maintaining overall health and well-being.
On Thursday, April 24, 2025, second-year students from the Graphic Design Department at Cihan University – Erbil visited Florentin Nursery under the supervision of Assistant Lecturer Ms. Saja Abdulhadi. It followed the successful completion of a creative project in which the students wrote, illustrated, and designed original children’s storybooks. This visit was organized by the Graphic Design Department to present these stories directly to young children, providing students with the opportunity to evaluate the impact and effectiveness of their designs with a genuine target audience.
During the visit, the students engaged the children with lively and interactive storytelling sessions and read their stories aloud. The children responded with enthusiasm and curiosity, actively participating in related activities such as coloring and drawing inspired by the narratives.
Ms. Wafaa Namiq Majeed, the Manager of Florentin Nursery, warmly received the students and expressed appreciation for their visit. She complimented the creativity and dedication demonstrated by the students, highlighting the positive impact such initiatives have on the nursery’s young learners.
This hands-on experience offered the students valuable insights into the design process tailored to children’s content and enhanced their communication and presentation skills within a real-world environment.
The Graphic Design Department remains committed to supporting projects that effectively bridge academic knowledge with practical community engagement, fostering a comprehensive educational experience for its students.
Assistant Professor Dr. Ismail Najm Al-Din Namq published a scholarly article entitled “The Kurdish Language as a Language of Legislation and Judiciary” in the eighth issue of the Linguistic Journal, issued by the Center for Linguistic Studies at Cihan University – Sulaimani.
The article aims to promote linguistic awareness and to emphasize the importance of adopting the Kurdish language in the drafting of legislation and in the formulation of judicial decisions issued by various courts.
Assistant Professor Dr. Ismail Najm Al-Din Namq has published his book entitled “Environmental Administrative Law.”
The book addresses the legal concept of the environment, forms and mechanisms of environmental protection, the legal regulation of environmental matters, and the role of judicial oversight over environmental administrative decisions, in addition to several other significant legal topics.
This work is considered a rigorous and distinctive academic contribution in terms of the depth and accuracy of its scientific content, and its effective role in promoting contemporary legal thought concerned with environmental protection and sustainability.
The graduation ceremony for the fourth pedagogical course was held at Cihan University-Sulaymaniya.
Today, Wednesday, 9th Sep 2025, at Cihan University-Sulaymaniya, in a ceremony, certificates were awarded to teachers who participated in the fourth pedagogical course, in which teachers from the Ministry of Education participated.
The course was organized in coordination between the Board of Trustees of Cihan Universities and the Ministry of Education of the Kurdistan Regional Government. The goal of this course was to train teachers on the latest teaching methods (pedagogy) and prepare them to transfer their skills to various schools.
Among attendees were, Professor. Dr Omid Rafiq Fatah, president of Cihan University Sulaimaniya and Dr. Sadat Abdullah Aziz, Assistant President for Scientific Affairs and Higher Education, and the director and representatives of the Training and qualifications Directorate of the Ministry of Education attended the ceremony. At the end, appreciation and respect were expressed to the course instructors, and participation certificates were distributed to the participating educators.
The Deputy Governor of Sulaymaniyah District hosted a visit by Cihan University – Sulaymaniyah. During the meeting, which included the President of Cihan University – Sulaymaniyah, Prof. Dr. Omed Rafiq Fattah, the Deputy Governor of Sulaymaniyah, Awat Muhammad Ghafour, and members of the Governorate’s Higher Committee, future steps were discussed to systematize the operations and activities of the Sulaymaniyah District Governorate.
Previously, in line with the spirit of cooperation between the university and the Sulaymaniyah District Governorate, Cihan University – Sulaymaniyah provided a dedicated portal along with several tools and servers for the Governorate. These provisions facilitate the work of the Governorate’s joint committees, which include 47 committees, and represent an important step in gathering information and digitizing data.
The President of Cihan University emphasized the university’s full readiness to support the Sulaymaniyah District Governorate now and in the future, in a way that eases the responsibilities of committee heads and enables them to provide better services to citizens.
At the end of the meeting, the Deputy Governor of Sulaymaniyah expressed his sincere gratitude to Cihan University – Sulaymaniyah and presented a token of appreciation to the university president and Prof. Dr. Nizar Abdulqadir Ali for their role in establishing the Governorate portal and coordinating with the Governorate’s technical teams—a project that serves the city of Sulaymaniyah and all its residents.
The President of Cihan University of Sulaimaniya (Prof. Dr. Omed Rafiq Fatah) participated, along with the President of Cihan University – Duhok (Prof. Dr. Zeravan Abdulmohsen Asaad), in the sessions of the first day of the “Digital Universities Arab World 2025” conference. The conference was held in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, from September 16 to 18, 2025, organized by the British Times Higher Education institution in collaboration with the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation in the Sultanate of Oman, at the campus of the Arab Open University. The first day’s activities witnessed the presence of over (300) higher education leaders from around the world, including university presidents, deans, directors of research centers, and experts in digital transformation, in addition to more than (70) specialized speakers addressing issues of artificial intelligence, blended learning, and digital university governance. The university president’s participation in this event reflects the university’s keenness to keep pace with global transformations in higher education, affirm its academic presence at both Arab and international levels, and build bridges of cooperation with leading institutions in the field of digital education.
Professor Dr. Karim Sharif Qarajetani delivered a seminar to first-year students at the Technical and Vocational Institute of Cihan University entitled “How to Adapt to the University Environment and the Requirements of This New Stage.” In the seminar, he discussed the factors that help students adapt to the academic environment after transitioning from a completely different setting. A large number of students and faculty members attended the seminar.
