International Workshop: “The Kurdish Language Textbook in Transition”

Tishk International University is pleased to announce the successful conclusion of the International Workshop on “The Kurdish Language Textbook in Transition,” a collaborative event between the Goethe Institute and the English Language Teaching Department, Faculty of Education, TIU. The workshop brought together a distinguished group of international and local scholars, policymakers, and language educators for a full day of discussion, knowledge-sharing, and collaborative planning for the future of Kurdish language education in the Kurdistan Region.

With increasing cultural and linguistic diversity in the Kurdistan Region, the workshop addressed the growing need for structured, high-quality Kurdish language instruction for non-native adult speakers. Drawing on global practices, the event offered a dynamic platform for comparing educational models, exploring challenges, and identifying opportunities for reform.

Keynote speakers Dr. Kathrin Kunkel-Razum, Prof. Dr. Henning Lobin, and Mr. Fahmi Kakaee shared valuable insights into curriculum development, textbook design, and successful strategies for teaching a language within a multicultural context. Kurdish scholars including Dr. Dyar Ali Kamal, Dr. Qais Kakil Tawfiq, and Dr. Shakhawan Sideeq Ramadhan provided regional perspectives on pedagogy, linguistic needs, and current practices in teaching Kurdish to non-native speakers.

Moderated by Ms. Liva Adil Shareef and Mr. Soran Abubakr Abdulrahman, the workshop featured highly interactive discussions that fostered meaningful academic cooperation.

The workshop concluded with several important outcomes that will guide future efforts in Kurdish language education:

Participants reached consensus on developing a standardized Kurdish textbook for non-native speakers that aligns with international language-teaching frameworks. This textbook will incorporate communicative, learner-centered approaches inspired by successful foreign language teaching models.

The workshop defined several curricular priorities, including:

The event laid the foundation for deeper collaboration between TIU and German institutions. This supports sustainable educational development and aligns with SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Participants reiterated the importance of inclusive language access, emphasizing that improving Kurdish language teaching contributes significantly to SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) by helping non-Kurdish residents integrate into social, academic, and professional life.

The workshop strengthened TIU’s role in promoting SDG 4 (Quality Education) by fostering research-informed, innovative language teaching practices that benefit both educators and learners.

The insights and collaborative spirit of the workshop mark an important step toward modernizing Kurdish language education in the Kurdistan Region. TIU, together with the Goethe Institute and participating experts, will continue working on the agreed roadmap to ensure that Kurdish learning materials meet international standards and effectively serve the region’s diverse population.

Tishk International University extends its gratitude to all speakers, panelists, attendees, and organizers who contributed to making this workshop a successful and forward-looking academic event. We look forward to announcing future meetings, progress updates, and the next phases of the textbook development project.