“The Kurdish Language Textbook in Transition”**
Joint international workshop organized by the Goethe Institute and the English Language Teaching Department, Faculty of Education, Tishk International University
Date: November 20, 2025
Venue: Tishk International University, Erbil, Iraq
Tishk International University is pleased to announce the upcoming International Workshop on “The Kurdish Language Textbook in Transition,” organized collaboratively by the Goethe Institute and the English Language Teaching Department, Faculty of Education, TIU. The workshop is scheduled to take place on November 20, 2025, at the TIU campus. This important international event will bring together leading German and Kurdish linguists, educators, and policymakers to engage in a forward-looking dialogue on the future of Kurdish language teaching, particularly for non-Kurdish speakers living and working in the Kurdistan Region.
The workshop arises from the growing linguistic needs of an increasingly diverse Kurdistan Region. With ongoing economic expansion and a rapidly internationalizing population, many non-Kurdish speakers seek opportunities to learn Kurdish for social, academic, and professional integration. Enhancing access to such learning directly contributes to quality education by promoting modern, inclusive approaches to language instruction in alignment with the principles of the UN Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education). At the same time, offering structured and effective Kurdish language learning materials supports SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), as linguistic inclusion plays a crucial role in ensuring that all residents—regardless of their cultural or linguistic background—can fully participate in the region’s social and professional life.
A key feature of the workshop is the exchange of international expertise, particularly drawing on the experience of German institutions in teaching German as a foreign language. By inviting leading experts such as Dr. Kathrin Kunkel-Razum, Prof. Dr. Henning Lobin, and Mr. Fahmi Kakaee, the workshop fosters meaningful cross-border academic collaboration. This commitment to shared knowledge and joint problem-solving reflects the spirit of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), which encourages global partnerships as a pathway to strengthening sustainable educational development. Their contributions, alongside those of distinguished Kurdish scholars including Dr. Dyar Ali Kamal, Dr. Qais Kakil Tawfiq, and Dr. Shakhawan Sideeq Ramadhan, will enrich discussions on designing a cohesive Kurdish language curriculum and developing a modern textbook framework tailored to non-native speakers.
Throughout the day, participants will engage in keynote presentations, panel discussions, and interactive sessions focused on pedagogical innovation, curriculum design, and best practices in teaching languages to non-native speakers. These activities aim not only to explore existing challenges but also to lay the foundation for a comprehensive Kurdish language textbook that can support learners within the growing international community in the region. By integrating global expertise with local linguistic realities, the workshop seeks to advance a more inclusive and accessible educational environment—an essential step toward long-term sustainable development and intercultural understanding across the Kurdistan Region.
With policymakers, language teachers, curriculum developers, and university students expected to attend, the workshop will serve as a significant platform for collective reflection and forward planning. Tishk International University looks forward to welcoming all participants to this important event and to contributing to a future in which Kurdish language education is strengthened, modernized, and aligned with international academic standards.
Registration [hyperlink]
The Kurdish Language Textbook in Transition: inspired by German Experience
