A grand welcome was provided by a group of dedicated student-volunteers who greeted guests in traditional Kurdish dress at Koya University, who hosted the following two days of the conference.
Attendees were welcomed to an exhibit of prominent members of Kurdish culture spanning recent decades, specifically presented to showcase the rich history of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI).
An impassioned keynote address from Saida Affouneh, Professor of Emergency Education and Online Learning, was met with applause as the audience was visibly moved by her story of working amid conflict. Prof Saida spoke of the historic suffering and resilience of the Palestinian people, and the challenges this presented to the education system. Prof Saida described the role the education system had in preserving and transmitting Palestinian culture. Three key practices were central to her work, namely: ‘Reach, Recover and Rebuild’.
This was followed by a panel discussion chaired by Professor Kelsey Shanks with Prof Saida, Kuany Kiir, Dr Sherko Kirmanj and Prof Qabas Hasan of University of Mosul, who specialises in public law. Her expertise was especially valuable, given Mosul’s occupation by Islamic State until 2017. Dr Qabas has been publishing on suitable taxation systems since the city’s liberation.
UNESCO’s Education for Peace Programme Manager, Kuany Kiir, detailed the importance of locally grounded curricula. “I want justice,” said Kuany. “I want to see the reasons for conflict to be addressed to prevent further conflict in the future.”
The next session, chaired by Dr Birgul Kutan, examined the role of education in promoting social justice and representation in post-conflict Iraq. Dr Birgul has published widely on education and social movements focused largely on her native Turkey, a country sitting on a geopolitical bridge between Europe and Asia. Speakers discussed challenges such as sectarian divisions, displacement, and inequalities in education, as well as strategies for fostering inclusivity and rebuilding communities.
Dr Kamaran Palani presented on the right to education for minority groups in Iraq, highlighting the need for representative education. A work that was conducted in collaboration with Professor Kelsey Shanks and Mr Khidher Domle.
Jumana Al-Waeli explored the educational experiences of young women displaced by ISIS from a social justice perspective. Meanwhile, Mustafa Wshyar shared his findings on Kurdish school textbooks in early education within the KRI, focusing on minority representation. Khairullah Sabhan Abdullah examined innovative educational programs aimed at reintegrating children from displacement camps, with a case study of Al-Jadaa 1 Camp. All talks provided valuable insights into how education can serve as a tool for addressing deep-rooted inequalities in Iraq’s recovery process.
After a lunch of traditional Kurdish foods, the afternoon session in the Main Hall explored Inclusive Education and Peace-building. Chaired by Kuany Kiir, this session examined how inclusive education can break down barriers, promote peace, and ensure equitable outcomes. Speakers explored the roles of educators, community actors, and ethical leadership in fostering social justice and cohesion.
Nidal Al Haj Sleiman provided a critical analysis of school leaders’ perspectives on social justice education in the KRI. Innocent Uche Anazia discussed the impact of school violence on socio-economically disadvantaged students and the role of community actors in promoting inclusivity. Halmat Mahmood spoke of challenges in implementing inclusive education in KRI’s primary schools. Ahmed Abdelhamid Salman addressed ways to improve public high school leadership in Egypt through ethical leadership practices.
After taking the stage, Halmat said: “It felt great to present my PhD research thesis, focusing on the challenges in implementing inclusive education in the KRI.
“I highlighted the key challenges from teachers’ perspectives and provided recommendations for policies and practices.”
The final session of the day was on the Role of Curriculum, chaired by Jumana Al-Waeli. This session examined the critical role of educational curricula in shaping societal attitudes toward violence, peace, and coexistence.
Presenters explored how curriculum content can either drive divisions or serve as a tool for fostering understanding and reconciliation. Dr Sherko Kirmanj and Paiman Azeez shared findings on their research on the representation of violence in history and Islamic education textbooks in the Kurdistan Region, while Miran Hassan discussed how educational materials can promote religious moderation.
Bahman Nariman provided insights into the militarisation of education in Iraq and the impact this has had in shaping national identity. Ahmed Muhammad presented a case study on peacebuilding efforts through locally driven curricula in Kirkuk. Finally, Sdiq Ali examined the role of educational materials in promoting peace and coexistence, using textbooks as an example. The session underscored the challenges of integrating peace-oriented narratives into diverse educational systems while highlighting opportunities for fostering inclusive and nonviolent pedagogies.
The sessions drew a range of questions from a highly engaged audience, with parallels drawn between different regions in the Middle East that had been impacted by conflict. Dr Sherko Kirmanj thanked the audience for their thoughtful questions.
