Program Overview
The Joint Bachelor of Science in Spatial Planning between the University of Duhok (UoD) in Kurdistan Region-Iraq and the Technical University of Dortmund (TU Dortmund) in Germany represents a premier international academic milestone. This highly integrated, five-year program successfully bridges the complex disciplines of engineering and social sciences, equipping graduates with the cross-cultural expertise required to pioneer resilient urban and regional solutions.
This academic alliance dates back to February 2009, when the two sides signed a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to foster advanced university cooperation. Under this agreement, five partner universities have were commissioned to develop specific partnerships with Iraqi institutions. The Faculty of Spatial Planning at TU Dortmund was uniquely tasked with designing international education and research components tailored to Iraq's spatial development needs.
This initiative was launched under the framework of the PLIQ Project (Planning Education for Iraq), funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) through the "Strategic Academic Partnership with Iraq" program.
Evolving from these strong historical roots, the program stands today as a model for internationalized higher education in the region.
Students look forward to a rigorous curriculum governed by a shared Module Manual and joint examination regulations. Throughout their academic journey, they are directly supervised, mentored, and taught by elite professors and planning experts from both Duhok and Dortmund.
Upon successful completion of this rigorous five-year track, graduates are awarded a prestigious, locally and internationally accredited Joint Certificate in Bachelor of Science in Spatial Planning. This qualification validates their ability to apply international, data-driven planning frameworks to complex local environmental and spatial challenges, serving as a powerful catalyst for sustainable regional development.