Research Season of Contemporary Studies on Kurdistan and Iraq

June 2024

Call for Presentations

The Center for Peacebuilding and Dialogue (CPD) of the University of Kurdistan Hewlêr (UKH) organized the first Research Season of Contemporary Studies on Kurdistan and Iraq in 2023, where PhD and MA students across the world presented their research projects on Kurdistan and Iraq and created a constructive and thought-provoking space for debates between researchers.

UKH Research Season is returning this year, and we are happy to invite local and international young MA and PhD students who wish to present their research to participate in this second edition.

We welcome abstracts in a range of subjects on Kurdistan and Iraq including fields of political sciences, peace and conflict studies, security studies, sociology, economy, social and cultural anthropology, history, gender, geography, media and journalism, urban and spatial planning as well as climate change and water. New topics with an artificial intelligence link are also welcome.

We see ourselves as a space for open academic debate in which controversial topics can be discussed by considering scientific methods. Within this framework, we offer not only a space for an international, but also an interdisciplinary dialogue. During the event, participants will have the opportunity to meet the academic community and other relevant stakeholders in the Kurdistan Region.

Criteria for participation:

• Current MA or PhD student
• Research focus must be on Kurdistan and/or Iraq in one of the topics mentioned above
• Have an abstract of 150-250 words in the language that you are conducting your research on (12 Pt, Single Space, Times New Roman)

If you are interested, we kindly invite you to submit an abstract of 150-250 words to [email protected]. Please indicate your name, program & level of study, and university name when you apply.

Application process and Important Dates:

• Deadline for sending your abstracts: May 1
• Notifications of Acceptances: May 10
• Registration Confirmation: May 17
• In case of acceptance, you will be asked to submit a paper (3000-5000 words) after the conference.
• Event will happen on June 6th, 2024 on the campus of the University of Kurdistan Hewlêr, Erbil, in a physical format.
• The program and necessary logistical notes will be shared with selected participants in due course.

Conference Format: Keynote speeches, paper presentations, panel discussions, and networking opportunities.

Important Note: This year, we are happy to open the opportunity in a trilingual format. Researchers who are conducting their research in English, Kurdish, and Arabic languages are encouraged to participate. Interpretation will be available during the event.

Proceedings: Selected participants and presenters will have the opportunity to publish papers in our journal.

For any inquiries, please do not hesitate to contact us on  [email protected].

We look forward to receiving your abstracts and seeing you in Erbil soon.