Rojava University Academic: Ministry’s decision resembles Arab Belt Policy

The Syrian transitional government’s Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research issued a decision yesterday concerning Rojava University and Kobani University. Following the decision, students and academics at Rojava University expressed their rejection of it.

In this context, Mezgin Hasan, an academic and member of the Kurdish Language Research Center at Rojava University, spoke to our agency and rejected the decision.

Hasan called on the relevant authorities to reconsider the decision issued by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, saying that students and academics were voicing their opposition and demanding a review. She stressed that “we cannot call this decision integration; it is assimilation and erasure.”

She explained that one of the main demands was the recognition of Rojava University as an independent university. However, the decision stipulates merging the university and turning it into a branch of Al-Furat University, without taking its Kurdish identity and language into account.

She added that the decision failed to respect the university’s distinct character as an educational institution with a Kurdish identity. It also overlooked the region’s need for various university specializations and the qualified professionals graduating from them.

Excluding Faculties from University Admissions Limits Students’ Choices

On university admissions for the 2026–2027 academic year, Hasan explained that many faculties at Rojava University had not been included in Syria’s general university admissions process, despite the importance of their graduates to the region. She noted that only the Faculties of Humanities and Literature and Education had been included.

She pointed out that media reports indicated that between 4,500 and 5,000 students were enrolled at Rojava University, stressing that the needs and aspirations of these students could not be limited to one or two faculties.

In this regard, she said that not all students wanted to become teachers. While some chose education, others aspired to study politics, medicine, scientific research and engineering. She argued that excluding many faculties from the admissions process disregarded the diversity of students’ aspirations and the region’s need for specialists in various fields.

She added that limiting admissions to just two faculties would force students wishing to pursue other specializations to move to Damascus, Aleppo or other areas, whereas their demand was to have access to university education in their own region.

Hasan emphasized that the issue was not merely about where students studied, but also about their ability to pursue their chosen specializations and the region’s need for qualified professionals in various fields.

The Decision Resembles the Arab Belt Policy

Discussing the implications of the decision, Mezgin Hasan compared it to the policies pursued by the Baath regime toward the region, recalling the Arab Belt policy. She said that under the former regime, the region was treated as a “remote and neglected geography,” with its identity disregarded under those policies.

She added that although there had been positive signs in discourse surrounding the Kurdish language, these had not necessarily been reflected in practical decisions concerning education.

“Now, although the Kurdish language has been recognized as a national language and there is an agreement between the Autonomous Administration and the transitional government, the media makes it seem as though everything is going well. However, on the ground, we see bad decisions being made concerning students,” Hasan said.

Hasan criticized the contradiction between statements about recognizing the Kurdish language and decisions affecting the future of students and the university. She stressed that the issue required a review of the decision in a way that respected the region’s distinct character and identity.

She called on the relevant authorities and those familiar with Syria and its history to reconsider the decision and better understand the distinct character of Rojava University and the region. She said the merger should be addressed in a way that takes these specific circumstances into account, rather than through measures that disregard them.

Students Want to Study in Their Own Region

Hasan stressed that excluding many faculties from the new university admissions process left students facing the prospect of moving elsewhere to continue their education. She explained that Damascus, Aleppo and other areas could become destinations for students whose chosen specializations were not available through Rojava University’s admissions process.

She emphasized that students wanted to study in their own region and that providing the university specializations they needed locally was linked both to their right to education and to the region’s need for qualified scientific and professional personnel.

“We Will Not Stop Until We Achieve Our Rights”

On the university’s response, Hasan said several meetings had been held and the university had submitted proposals concerning the decision. However, she explained that the decision remained centralized despite these efforts.

She affirmed that students and academics would continue to keep the issue on their agenda and press for their rights until the decision was reconsidered.

Hasan concluded: “We will always keep this on the agenda. As students and teachers, we will continue our struggle, and we will not stop until we achieve our rights.”

a.k

ANHA