On Wednesday, 17/12/2025, the College of City and Regional Planning visited the Ministry of Municipalities, the General Directorate of Urban Planning - Erbil, to discuss future collaboration opportunities.

Led by Prof. Dr. Layla Mohamed Raswol (the dean of the college), Dr. Basheer Ahmed Mohammed Saeed (the head of the Department of Spatial Planning), and Dr. Johannes Lückenkötter (Program Coordinator from TU Dortmund, Germany), the delegation visited Dr. Chwas Abdulhadi Sabr, the Director of the General Directorate of Urban Planning - Erbil, Ms. Ravin, and Dr. Rebaz (Study and Research Center).

The meeting focused on building on the outcomes of the DAAD Ta’zizProject (The joint project for Promoting and Strengthening Participation in the Kurdistan region) and exploring cooperation for the establishment of the Center for Participatory Planning and Development within the College of City and Regional Planning at the University of Duhok - UoD.

There was strong agreement that participatory processes, especially those related to updating laws and regulations, must be led by a neutral and credible entity. The Center for Participatory Planning and Development (CPPD) was explicitly recognized as a suitable and trusted platform to play this role, supported by its academic foundation and its partnership with TU Dortmund University, which adds international expertise. CPPD was also identified as a potential hub for applied research, including studies on Public awareness of participation and Municipal readiness and capacity for participatory planning.

The meeting clearly confirmed that the General Directorate of Urban Planning and academic partners are fully aligned and supportive of the CPPD. There was a shared understanding that the Center can:

• Act as a neutral facilitator of Participatory Planning
• Produce practical tools for Participatory Planning
• Support legislative reform, capacity building, and awareness
• Strengthen collaboration between academia, government, and municipalities

Alignment with the UoD Strategic Plan
This participation supports the University of Duhok’s Strategic Plan (2023–2038) by:

• Strengthening international academic cooperation.
• Enhancing capacity building for staff.
• Promoting innovation and digital transformation in participation and planning.
• Advancing UoD’s role in sustainable development and applied research.

The initiative also aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly:

• SDG 4: Quality Education.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.

Looking Ahead
The establishment of the Center for Participatory Planning and Development (CPPD) marks an important step in UoD’s ongoing efforts to strengthen interdisciplinary approaches to local development, integrate participatory tools in planning education, and expand international networks across the region.