About KISSR

This organization was firstly established under the name of Kurdistan Technology and Research Centres by Professor Dr. Polla Khanaqa with the support of the Prime Minister of Kurdistan Regional Government Omar Fatah, and Dr Akhtar Najmaddin, the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research in 2005. After that, Kurdistan Institution for Strategic Studies and Scientific Research (KISSR) was established at the end of 2008 by Professor Dr. Polla Khanaqa, Proffessor Rizgar Jiyawk and their colleagues in the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and the Council of Ministers – KRG. KISSR is the first research institution in Kurdistan Region, which is specialized for scientific research and strategic studies. It is a professional body which is home for around 200 local and international members. The academic members are responsible for activities such as conducting researches, lecturing at KISSR and other universities in KRI, opening training courses, etc.

Mission:

In order for the Kurdish research community to achieve excellence, KISSR has four main objectives. Firstly, conducting researches at the highest international levels of excellence. Secondly, increasing the overall visibility of Kurdish higher education and research and being a bridge between Kurdish higher education and science and the global academic and scientific community. Thirdly, contributing to the reform and modernization of Kurdish higher education and scientific by adopting new technologies as well as academic and scientific norms. Last but not least, providing academia, political leaders, the private sector and the public with evidence-based study outcomes.

Vision:

It is the vision of the Kurdistan Institution for Strategic Studies and Scientific Research (KISSR) to:

1. Become a regionally known and internationally acknowledged research institution that performs high-quality study in accordance with global norms;
2. Become a heavily internationalized organization that promotes a plethora of joint global study initiatives as well as instructional programs;
3. Contribute to the progress and development of the Kurdistan Region and Iraq by teaching and implementing international standards and technologies to a new generation of universities and researchers.

Research Centers:

Currently, KISSR has four active research centers and eight scientific research departments:

1. Research Center for Natural Sciences, Engineering, and Agriculture: It includes four scientific research departments:
   • Department of Natural Sciences
   • Department of Agriculture and Veterinary
   • Department of Information Technology
   • Department of Engineering
2. Research Center for Health, Bio-medicine, and Environment: It includes two scientific research departments:
   • Department of Health
   • Department of Environment and Quality Control
3. Research Center for Strategic Studies: It includes two scientific research departments:
   • Department of Law and Sociology
   • Department of Administration, Economics, and Political Sciences
4. The Kurdistan Research Center for Cancer Studies

Units:

In spite of having four active research centers, KISSR has the following units:

1. Local and International Relations Office
2. Information Office on the University of Göttingen – Iraq
3. Postgraduate Studies and Scientific Affairs
4. Counter-Terrorism and Anti-Violence
5. Gender Equality
6. Health and Safety
7. Consultancy Bureau
8. Academic Journals
9. Information Technology and Statistics