American University of Iraq, Sulaimani
American University of Iraq, Sulaimani is a not-for-profit, private institution located in Sulaymaniyah, in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The university offers an American-style liberal arts education.
History
American University of Iraq, Sulaimani was founded in 2006 by a board of trustees. The university, modeled after the famous private universities in Cairo and Beirut, was created amid the turmoil of war but in the relatively secure Kurdish region of Iraq. The purpose of founding such a university, according to Dr. Barham Salih was to stimulate reform in the Iraqi education system.Intellectuals such as Kanan Makiya, Fouad Ajami, and John Agresto, supported the establishment of AUIS. Joshua Mitchell, professor of political theory at Georgetown University became Acting Chancellor in 2008 and remained in his position for two years while on leave from Georgetown. From 2010 to 2013, Athanasios Moulakis served as Acting President and held the title of President Emeritus of the university. In May 2013, the Board of Trustees chose Dawn Dekle as president. She became the first female president of an Iraqi university when she took up her position at AUIS. Esther Mulnix was chosen to serve as interim president after Dekle's departure. Bruce Walker Ferguson was named President of AUIS on August 1, 2016.
Campus
The main campus has 169-hectares of land situated on the Sulaimani-Kirkuk Road, opposite the University of Sulaymaniyah. Construction of the campus was completed at the start of the academic year in 2011. The campus has several buildings, including an administrative building with a multipurpose conference hall, an academic building, state-of-the-art science labs, a gym, male and female dormitories, as well as two basketball courts and one soccer field. The AUIS library is located in the academic building while its cafeteria is housed in the administrative building. AUIS is currently located just outside the city limits of Sulaymaniyah. The AUIS academic building opened in October 2011 while its administrative building opened in the spring semester of 2012. Moreover, the new student dorm facilities opened in November 2012.Former campus
AUIS was first located in a temporary campus in the heart of Sulaymaniyah. The campus consisted of about 50 temporary classrooms and offices built near a main administrative building, which housed the university's cafeteria, library, and several large classrooms.Organization
The university has a board of trustees composed of prominent Iraqi and American leaders from across a wide range of sectors, including government, business, nonprofit and education sectors. The Board of Trustees oversees the management and operations of the university and is a self-perpetuating body that establishes it policies.Academia
Academic Preparatory Program
The Academic Preparatory Program prepares non-native English speaking high school graduates to enter the AUIS undergraduate program by teaching them academic English, critical thinking skills, and study habits.All applicants to American University of Iraq, Sulaimani must take an English placement test upon admission. Scores on these exams, based on the English requirements, determine placement. About 90 percent of students will require English training before joining the academic program; they receive this training in APP. The program strengthens students' English language skills and provides them with the student success training and intellectual tools needed not only to do well but to thrive in the academic program.
AUIS is accredited by the Commission on English Language Program Accreditation for the period April 2020 through April 2030 and agrees to uphold the CEA Standards for English Language Programs and Institutions. CEA is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education as a nationally recognized accrediting agency for English language programs and institutions in the U.S.
APP operates with a high level of quality, with an approved program of study, qualified instructors, adequate resources, and approved recruitment and admissions policies. Through the hard work of the APP staff and instructors, APP has acquired public recognition with this accreditation which indicates that it fully meets US and international standards set by the US Department of Education.
Undergraduate program
The Undergraduate program at AUIS is modeled after the liberal American-style of education. AUIS undergraduates explore different disciplines before choosing a major.The academic departments at AUIS are the primary vehicle for fulfilling the university's mission. AUIS offers one preparatory program, 22 undergraduate programs including two dual degrees, and one master's degree, organized into two colleges and eight departments.
College of Dentistry
College of Pharmacy
Department of Business Administration
- Bachelor of Science, Business Administration
- Bachelor of Science, Human Resource Management
- Bachelor of Science, Digital Marketing and Social Media new
- Master of Business Administration
- Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering
- Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering
- Bachelor of Science, Energy Engineering
- Bachelor of Science, Industrial Engineering new
- Bachelor of Science, Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Engineering new
- Dual degree Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering, with University of Arizona
- Dual degree Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering, with University of Arizona
- Bachelor of Arts, English Journalism
- Bachelor of Arts, English Literature
- Bachelor of Arts, Translation
- Bachelor of Science, Information Technology
- Bachelor of Science, Cybersecurity new
- Bachelor of Science, Software Engineering
- Bachelor of Arts, International Studies
- Bachelor of Arts, International Relations
- Bachelor of Arts, Law
- Bachelor of Science, Medical Laboratory Science
- Minor Geoscience
- Minor in Mathematics
Graduate programs
AUIS offers an Executive MBA program through its Business and Administration Department.Professional Development Institute
The Professional Development Institute at AUIS complements the educational objectives of the university by providing opportunities for lifelong learning. PDI is a certified Cisco Academy and is accredited by the Association of Chartered Certified Account, the Project Management Institute, and ICDL. PDI has also been certified as a PMI Registered Education Provider.Student life and culture
Students can take part in many activities including drama, debate, linguistics, music, athletics, social work and indoor games like chess. There are several clubs and societies as well as sports and athletic teams for both men and women at AUIS. The university frequently takes part in arranging cultural events outside the campus as well. In 2013, the Drama Club and English Department joined forces to hold The Art of Social Justice - a one-week festival celebrating creative arts. The festival, backed by the US State Department, hosted performances, workshops, discussions and field trips by American and Iraqi artists. Later, AUIS senior lecturer Marie Labrosse published a book, SoJust, that chronicled the arts festival in Sulaimani.The university has also held events and performances at important cultural landmarks like the Cultural Cafe and Chai Xana Sha’ab, in keeping with the strong traditions of the Sulaymaniyah, which is the cultural capital of Kurdistan. It has also held various poetry recitations, like the Poetry Slam, and a poetry workshop at Koç University in Istanbul.