Dean of the College of Arts Participates in an International Workshop on Supporting Refugees and Internally Displaced Women

On March 17, 2025, the Dean of the College of Arts at the University of Kirkuk, Prof. Dr. Omar Najm Al_Aeen Enja, participated in the virtual international scientific workshop titled "Social and Psychological Support for Refugee and Internally Displaced Women in Times of Crisis."

In his speech during the workshop, the Dean emphasized that stable and secure communities witness creativity, development, and many of the essential elements of life, in contrast to communities where safety is lacking and conflicts are widespread. He added that when ISIS emerged and disrupted our environments, we at the University of Kirkuk faced these issues as several provinces fell under the control of the terrorist organization. This caused an educational crisis in those areas, prompting people from the surrounding provinces to seek refuge in Kirkuk, hoping for our support and assistance to relieve their suffering.

He confirmed that our resources were limited when seven universities requested our assistance, and the number of students exceeded 50,000. Consequently, he pressured the Governor of Kirkuk to open doors for these students, thus supporting their families by providing what resources we could to preserve the educational journey.

The Dean continued, stating that they received official approvals and opened the doors for these students, many of whom arrived in dire conditions. As a result, we decided to have multiple shifts at the University of Kirkuk and even held classes during holidays, making Friday and Saturday official workdays. He noted that many female students had lost their families, and some didn't know the whereabouts of their relatives. Therefore, they opened dormitories for them and provided both financial and moral support.

He praised the vital role of female faculty members in supporting the psychological well-being of the displaced female students, which created a strong sense of safety among the displaced women. He felt that they had fulfilled part of their moral responsibility to the students and their families, as they were now facing challenges to continue their lives and overcome the difficulties and social pressures they had endured, including poverty and hunger.

Additionally, he mentioned the "Oscar Award" initiative, where these ideas were presented as a project in the United Arab Emirates to the British side. They screened films featuring success stories, including displaced women talking about how the University of Kirkuk had provided a suitable environment for them and helped them integrate into society. As a result, after three days of presenting the project, the University of Kirkuk received the title of the Best University in the Middle East, surpassing seven global universities, due to its material and moral support for these displaced and refugee women.