Kurds open first university in Syrian Kurdistan

Afrin University (Zanîngeha Efrînê) in Syrian Kurdistan

Afrin University in Syrian Kurdistan. Photo: ANHA/Ekurd.net

AFRIN, Syrian Kurdistan,— The first university in Syrian Kurdistan opens it’s doors to students for the academic year 2015-2016 on Monday, local media reported.

The Afrin University (Zanîngeha Efrînê) in Afrin Canton has been established on July 26, 2015 and opened the door to university students wishing to register in August. So far, 160 students have enrolled in the university.

The university includes courses on economics, literature, and engineering.

The students have been spread over three faculties, the Faculty of Literature 80 Kurdish students, College of Electromechanical Engineering 40, and the Faculty of Economics 40 students, ANHA reported.

The project has been undertaken with the help of Finnish universities, and set up with the help of academics.

Syrian Kurds previously studied in cities like Hasakah, Aleppo, and Damascus, which have now been crippled by the civil war.

The Democratic Union Party (PYD)-led administration in Syrian Kurdistan ( the Kurdish areas of Syria’s north) hopes that by providing more education opportunities Kurds will be less inclined to leave.

The University’s Deputy President, whose specialized in the field of Applied Chemistry, Nuristan Mamo, said despite the situation in Syrian Kurdistan (Rojava), the establishment of the University is a historic event in itself.

Syrian Kurds declared their own autonomous Kurdish region (Western Kurdistan, Rojava) in November 2013.

(With files from basnews.com | Agencies)