History
In 2006, Dr. Barham Salih initiated the establishment of Iraq’s first non-profit, American-style university. He assembled a founding board comprising both Iraqi and international members dedicated to the vision of a better future through education. The initial board, chaired by Dr. Salih, included Mr. Basil Rahim, Dr. Azzam Alwash Dr. Fu’ad Ajami, Dr. John Agresto, Dr. Kanan Makia, Mr. Abdul-Rahman Rashid, Mr. Farouk Rasool, Dr. Rajaa Khezani, Mr. Hersh Muharam and Mr. Kamaran Ahmed.
To further support the mission of the university, the board appointed a Board of Regents consisting of prominent political figures who advocated for liberal arts education in Iraq. Members included President Jalal Talabani, former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani, Dr. Hachem Hassani, Dr. Adil Abd Al-Mahdi, and Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad. The full boards convened in Rome on August 1-2, 2006, following preparatory meetings on June 10, 2006.
The American University of Iraq, Sulaimani (AUIS) was launched as a not-for-profit public trust, unaffiliated with any individual or corporation. Its mission was to offer a comprehensive liberal arts education based on the American model, serving the needs of Kurdistan, Iraq, and the wider region. The board opted to name it “The American University of Iraq,” rather than “The American University of Sulaimani,” envisioning the creation of a network of sister universities across Iraq, similar to the University of California system.
AUIS opened its doors in 2007 with a commitment to providing an alternative to the prevalent “lecture-memorize-repeat” model of education common elsewhere in Iraq and the Middle East. Forty-five students from across Iraq were admitted to the first undergraduate class, and the university simultaneously launched an MBA program to offer business and leadership education at the graduate level.
Since then, the university has grown significantly. Today, AUIS offers 23 different undergraduate degree programs, all taught in English by an international faculty. These programs emphasize critical thinking, lifelong learning, and aim to make a lasting impact on the future of both the students and the broader region.
AUIS now has over 1,400 students, representing the diverse ethnic and religious landscape of the region. The university attracts top students from across Kurdistan, Iraq, and beyond, creating a student body that includes Kurdish and Arab Iraqis, Sunni and Shi’a Muslims, Christians, Yezidis, and others.
A core part of the university’s mission is to equip its graduates with strong character, essential knowledge, and the skills needed for leadership at both the national and professional levels. AUIS prepares students for successful careers in a modern, pluralistic society and a global environment. Its educational programs emphasize critical thinking, effective communication, a strong work ethic, good citizenship, and personal integrity. Through teaching excellence, quality scholarship, and dedicated student services, AUIS upholds a broad-based education rooted in the American liberal arts tradition while fostering practical skills development.
