Global Academic Community Gathers in Erbil for Premier Kurdish Studies Conference
ERBIL, KURDISTAN REGION OF IRAQ – The University of Kurdistan Hewlêr (UKH) will host the highly anticipated 4th International Conference of Kurdish Studies on 22–23 April 2025, under the timely theme “Reimagining Kurdistan: Identity, Politics, and Resistance in a Transforming Middle East.”
This landmark academic event is co-organized through a strategic partnership between the Kurdish Institute of Paris, UKH, and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), and co-sponsored by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research, the French Embassy in Baghdad, the KRG’s Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and the University of Kurdistan Hewlêr. It represents the most comprehensive gathering of Kurdish Studies scholars globally.
Bringing together more than one hundred presentations by researchers from twenty-seven countries across five continents, the conference will foster an unprecedented interdisciplinary dialogue. Scholars will critically engage with Kurdish identity, political aspirations, and cultural resilience in the context of broader regional transformations.
Two world-renowned scholars will deliver keynote addresses: Professor Hamit Bozarslan of the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (EHESS) in Paris, known for his influential work on violence and political movements in the Middle East, and Professor Khanna Omarkhali of the Free University of Berlin, whose pioneering research on Yezidi religious texts and oral traditions has brought vital visibility to Kurdish cultural heritage.
The academic programme is structured around five key thematic areas. These include political development and governance across the four parts of Kurdistan—featuring critical assessments of Rojava’s autonomous administration and the KRG’s evolving constitutional status; Kurdish language and cultural preservation, including digital archiving initiatives and literary revitalization; gender and feminism, with a focus on women’s political participation, conflict, and displacement; diaspora and transnationalism, exploring exile politics and homeland-diaspora dynamics; and new research methodologies, such as the use of artificial intelligence and digital humanities in Kurdish Studies.
Highlights of the conference include sessions on post-ISIS reconciliation in the Sinjar region, Kurdish cultural diplomacy, and a groundbreaking panel on digital manuscript preservation. The event will conclude with a high-level public forum, “Kurdistan in Transition,” featuring scholars, policymakers, and civil society leaders discussing contemporary challenges and future directions.
“This conference arrives at a pivotal historical juncture,” noted the Organising Committee. “As the Middle East undergoes profound transformations and the Kurdish people navigate complex political realities, this gathering provides an essential space for dialogue and scholarly exchange. It reflects the growing global relevance of Kurdish Studies as a dynamic and policy-relevant field of research.”
Media representatives are warmly invited to attend. Highlights include:
- Exclusive interviews with leading experts in Kurdish Studies
- Early access to key research findings on Kurdistan and the region
- Behind-the-scenes insights into high-level academic exchanges
- Special briefings on trends in Kurdish cultural production
Journalists seeking accreditation or interview requests should contact UKH Public Relations, Media and Communications at ([email protected]).
The full conference programme and participant bios are available at:
https://www.ukh.edu.krd/news/4th-international-kurdish-studies-conference/
Follow real-time updates, use #KurdishStudies2025 on X platform.
About the Organising Institutions
The Kurdish Institute of Paris, established in 1983, is Europe’s leading centre for Kurdish scholarship, combining academic research with cultural preservation. The University of Kurdistan Hewlêr, founded in 2006, has rapidly emerged as a premier institution for higher education and research in the Kurdistan Region. The KRG Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research promotes academic excellence and supports the development of research and innovation across the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
