​​​​​​​Rojava University ... tireless efforts to reach international scientific standards

Rojava University was established in 2016 in the city of Qamishlo in northern and eastern Syria, as one of the products of the July 19 revolution, with very modest capabilities at the academic and administrative levels, and it was able to establish basis for an educational-scientific institution that is now operating, after providing it with some capabilities to communicate with international academic institutions and personalities.

Rojava University was able to expand the academic framework by forming committees of follow up. As well as offering scientific, educational and other service projects.

In the first year, 252 students enrolled at the university, and the number doubled in the following years, so in the 2017/2018 academic year the number of students reached 720.

Rojava University now includes eight faculties: Medicine, Petroleum and Petrochemical Engineering, Architecture, Educational Sciences, Agriculture, Languages and Social Sciences), and two institutes: (Higher Mechatronics Institute, and the Administrative and Financial Institute), which are now in the process of creation of the faculty of Law and the Religious Sciences; In addition to the creation of the Department of Arabic Literature in the faculty of Languages and Social Sciences, as well as an institute for information.

Rojava University System

The educational system of the University of Rojava differs from the rest of the universities in Syria and the Middle East. It is a co-presidency system, in addition to following the evaluation system as an alternative to the classic examination system, as is the case in Syrian universities and most universities in the Middle East, and the language of study within the university is Kurdish And Arabic.

Janda Ahmed Arafat enrolled at the University of Rojava in 2018, the Department of Kurdish Literature. She thinks that the evaluation system is better than the classic examination system, and she said: "Through the evaluation system, the student can understand subject better, unlike the examination system, which is based on memorization."

The administrative body of the University of Rojava affirmed the university’s endeavor to create the appropriate climate for the educational process by focusing on the laboratory and field work of the scientific departments, and the research side for the literary and theoretical departments. It also indicated a number of great difficulties and challenges; especially with regard to the laboratory and field aspects, and the matter is currently related to financial and logistical problems.

Arafat explained: “Academically, there was a failure some professors that Rojava University was new in the region, and in the field of Kurdish literature in particular, in terms of dealing with students and preparing lectures by hand, while others were seeking to achieve goals of the university to the fullest. "

Among the most prominent difficulties that she faced was lack of resources (books, research, especially the grammar of the Kurdish language, since the university library had not been established at the time), and she explained: "We had to resort to the internet and there were doubts about the credibility of some sites."

The administrative body proves that the University of Rojava aspires to build a democratic and free society, by controlling and regulating the relationship between students and teachers, students and administration, and teachers and administration. In addition to training everyone in dealing with the scientific and correct face of criticism and self-criticism, and the objective and rational boldness in proposing, which will necessarily be reflected in building a new society by prescription, generation after generation.

Rojava University seeks to distinguish itself from other universities in the Middle East in the process of dealing with the educational process, in terms of curricula that try to achieve international scientific standards, and the evaluation system and the teaching method. As well as being open to all other cultures.

Research is ongoing to develop the educational process

In the past year, there have been many amendments to the evaluation system approved at the University of Rojava, by testing several scientific and international standards, and the most appropriate one has been selected, and it is added to some of the characteristics that distinguish the university from others.

As the actual attendance is an essential part of the educational process, and failure to achieve the required percentage of attendance makes the student fail. Joining group work, engaging in work, creativity and activities are an important part of the student assessment process. A percentage of the mark has also been allocated to research, jobs, studies, practical lessons and projects. Written examinations were added to this system after scrutiny and review, to complete the optimal aspect of this process.

Rojava University added a new stage during the current year, namely the preparatory stage, whereby students in the first year of joining the university will undergo the preparatory stage and then complete their specialization.

As for the decisions related to the university and the students, they are taken collectively through the board of directors, the university council, the women's council and the student council.

Attempts to build relationships with international universities

Rojava University seeks to build relationships with international universities and academic figures from around the world. According to the administrative body, an agreement of "coordination and exchange" signed with the University of California at the end of the summer of 2019, and it is in the process of concluding a similar agreement with the Italian University of Parma, and the project is in the process of signing the protocol.

In addition, contact with American universities through virtual meetings through the "Zoom" program, and contact with a group of Kurdish academics and Kurdish friends under the name of "Peace Academics" who provided an integrated program for coordination and cooperation in various fields, such as scientific research, providing books and workshops.

Participation in international workshops

The University of Rojava has participated in international workshops, such as a workshop entitled "The Imminent Danger in Social Sciences", in which academics from the United States, France, Brazil, South Africa and others participated, and the "World Heritage Protection" conference, which was held at Al-Mustansiriya University in Baghdad, The university participated in it by researching the olive tree as a cultural heritage of the afflicted Afrin region.

The administrative body of the University of Rojava clarified that the latest projects it undertook was the support campaign launched by the university on July 19, 2019, which attracted more than 100 international academic figures from various disciplines, and from around the world (Australia, Brazil, Italy, France, Britain, Canada, Albania, etc.). : "They offered support to our institution in various fields, some of them accepted joining as honorary members of the university’s academic body, donating lectures, supervising masters and doctoral theses, securing books, and providing financial aid."

The administration affirmed that: "The process of communicating with international universities is still continuing, including the German University of Dresden, and a draft memorandum of understanding with the American University of Washington."

Services provided to students

The University of Rojava provides housing for students from outside the province, with meals provided, and a sum of money is spent for students of Afrin, Serêkaniyê / Ras al-Ain, and Girê Spi / Tal Abyad. The university is about to make some amendments in this regard, such as building university campus with a capacity of at least a thousand students.

The university seeks coordination with the Autonomous Administration institutions, to secure job opportunities for students who have graduated from the university. In this regard, the graduate Arafat, explains: “After my graduation, there were many job opportunities, such as a teacher of the Kurdish language, media or even translation.” I was selected from among 6 students to teach at Rojava University.

So far, 223 students have graduated, 1460 male and female students are attending the university's colleges and institutes. The university is now preparing for registration that begins on August 25, to receive about 850 students.

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ANHA