University of Human Development

What University of Human Development does

University of Human Development (UHD) is a private non-profit university founded in 2008 by Professor Dr Ali Al Qaradaghi in Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. It holds dual licensing from the Kurdistan Regional Government Ministry of Higher Education (Official Order No. 19211/3, December 16, 2008) and the Iraqi Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (Ministerial Order No. 6613, September 24, 2017), and has aligned its academic framework with the European Bologna Process since 2016. UHD delivers undergraduate and graduate education across seven colleges — Law and Politics, Science and Technology, Languages, Administration and Economics, Health Sciences, Nursing, and Pharmacy — supported by an E-Library with Kurdish, Arabic, and English resources and free JSTOR access for staff and students. The institution's reported operating metrics include 7,418 cumulative alumni, 163 lecturers, 150 international students, and 10 academic departments.

UHD extends beyond degree delivery through two specialized centers. The Pedagogy and Academic Development Training Center — the first and only private-university pedagogy center in Sulaymaniyah Governorate recognized by the KRG Ministry of Higher Education — provides teacher qualification across six modules (ICT, Student-centred Approach, Innovative Pedagogical Methods, Competence Based Education, EduPreneurship, and Applied Research), with instructors trained by HAMK Häme University of Applied Sciences in Finland. The Development Centre for Research and Training (DCRT) funds research writing and delivers training courses for government employees. Additional academic infrastructure includes UHD Journals (journals.uhd.edu.iq), a conference platform, and an Erasmus and International Mobility Office established June 1, 2026.

UHD's revenue model is built primarily on recurring annual tuition and academic fees across its seven colleges, supplemented by professional services revenue from DCRT research grants and government training, and by training fees from the Pedagogy Center. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via an online admissions portal (reg.uhd.edu.iq), with the Office of International Affairs handling international student recruitment, exchange, and scholarship coordination. The customer base spans prospective students (primary), government employees (via DCRT), and current/aspiring teachers (via Pedagogy Center), yielding a diversified revenue mix with low concentration risk but exposure to regional enrollment cycles.

Name

University of Human Development

Legal name

University of Human Development

Website

https://uhd.edu.iq

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

University of Human Development is a private non-profit university in Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, founded in 2008, delivering undergraduate and graduate degrees across seven colleges (law, science and technology, languages, economics, health sciences, nursing, pharmacy) and offering teacher training, research, and government workforce development through its Pedagogy Center and DCRT.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Graduate Schools of Education (M.Ed., Ed.D., Ph.D.) (EDAHAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Undergraduate Teacher Education Colleges (EDAHAFAA), University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs (EDAAAEAA)

Keywords

• Higher education
• Undergraduate degrees
• Graduate programs
• Health sciences education
• Teacher training

Headquarters

HQ city

As Sulaymaniyah

HQ country

Iraq

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Academic Fees: Revenue generated from student tuition fees across seven colleges including undergraduate and graduate programs in law, science, languages, administration, health sciences, nursing, and pharmacy.
2. Research Grants and Training Services: DCRT supports and funds research writing and scientific investigation. The center offers training and opens courses for government employees in various sectors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The University of Human Development provides undergraduate and graduate degree programs across seven academic colleges (Law and Politics, Science and Technology, Languages, Administration and Economics, Health Sciences, Nursing, and Pharmacy). It supplements degree education with specialized teacher training through its Pedagogy and Academic Development Training Center, research and community training through DCRT, digital library resources via JSTOR access, and international academic exchange through its Erasmus office.

Product overview

University of Human Development (UHD) is a private non-profit university founded in 2008, offering education through seven academic colleges (Law and Politics, Science and Technology, Languages, Administration and Economics, Health Sciences, Nursing, and Pharmacy). The university provides specialized training through its Pedagogy and Academic Development Training Center (offering six course modules: ICT, Student-centred Approach, Innovative Pedagogical Methods, Competence Based Education, EduPreneurship, and Applied Research). UHD supports research through its Development Centre for Research and Training (DCRT) and provides academic resources via its library with JSTOR access. Additional services include UHD Journals (journals.uhd.edu.iq), a conference platform hosting international academic events, and an Erasmus and International Mobility Office facilitating student and staff exchange with European institutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DCRT Center: Development Centre for Research and Training - an academic non-profit centre that works to fulfil the main UHD goal of individual and community development through research and training
• Pedagogy and Academic Development Training Center
• Office of International Affairs (UHDOIA)
• Erasmus and International Mobility Office

Products and services

• College of Law and Politics Academic college offering undergraduate and graduate programs in law and political science, serving students pursuing legal and political education.
• College of Science and Technology Academic college providing science and technology education, including partnerships with IT companies for student experiential learning.
• College of Languages Academic college offering English and Arabic language programs.
• College of Administration and Economics Academic college providing education in administration and economics.
• College of Health Sciences Academic college focused on health sciences education.
• College of Nursing Academic college offering nursing education and hosting academic panels on healthcare topics.
• College of Pharmacy Academic college providing pharmaceutical sciences education and hosting academic discussions on drug safety.
• Pedagogy and Academic Development Training Center Specialized training center providing teacher qualification programs for aspiring teachers, candidates, Masters, and PhD holders from all private and public universities in Kurdistan, instructed by experts trained by HAMK Häme University of Applied Sciences in Finland.
• Development Centre for Research and Training (DCRT) Academic non-profit center supporting research writing and scientific investigation of societal problems, providing training programs for government employees in various sectors across the Kurdistan Region.
• UHD Library Services University library providing Kurdish, Arabic, and English resources including books, PhD and MA theses, journals, dictionaries, encyclopaedias, and free digital access to JSTOR database.
• UHD Conference Platform Platform hosting international conferences including the International Conference of Reform and Political Change, Peacebuilding and Genocide Prevention, and Economic and Administrative Reform conferences.
• UHD Journals University-hosted journal platform publishing academic research from UHD faculty and researchers.
• Erasmus and International Mobility Office Office coordinating academic exchange and mobility opportunities for students and staff with European institutions through joint programs, shared courses, and collaborative academic activities, supporting UHD's Bologna Process implementation since 2016.

Quantifiable outcome

• 13th Pedagogical Training Course graduation completed
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Suli WorksminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2026UHD signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Suli Works for potential collaboration in areas of mutual interest.
• STEP-IraqminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2026UHD signed a Memorandum of Understanding with STEP-Iraq for potential collaboration in areas of mutual interest.
• European Institutions (Erasmus Programme)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 June 2026The Erasmus and International Mobility Office at UHD facilitates academic exchange and mobility opportunities for students and staff through joint programmes and collaborative activities with European institutions.
• HuaweiminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025UHD participated in the 10th Huawei ICT Competition 2025-2026 Global Final, representing the university in international technology competition.
• European Higher Education Area (Bologna Process)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016UHD has implemented the Bologna Process since 2016, aligning with European higher education standards to enhance its academic framework.
• HAMK Häme University of Applied Sciences (Finland)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExperts at UHD's Pedagogy Center were trained by HAMK Häme University of Applied Sciences in Finland as part of the Professional Teachers Development program run by the KRG Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Lebanese American University: Established private, non-profit American-style university in Lebanon offering undergraduate and graduate programs across multiple disciplines. Comparable as a private non-profit regional university model with U.S.-style curriculum and dual accreditation approach relevant to UHD's trajectory.
• University of Baghdad: Largest and oldest public university in Iraq, with broad program offerings including law, medicine, pharmacy, and sciences. Comparable as a national incumbent whose programs overlap with UHD's seven colleges and whose graduates compete in the same labor market.
• Al-Nahrain University: Public Iraqi university based in Baghdad focused on medical, engineering, and science programs. Comparable as an incumbent peer in the broader Iraqi higher-education market, especially for UHD's College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.

Regional players

• Koya University: Public university in Koya, Kurdistan Region offering undergraduate and graduate programs. Regional comparable in the Kurdish higher-education market with similar multi-college structure.
• Salahaddin University-Erbil: Major public university in Erbil covering humanities, sciences, law, and health sciences. Regional peer operating in the Kurdistan higher-education market with overlapping program mix and competing for faculty and students.

Direct peers

• University of Sulaimani: Public university headquartered in Sulaymaniyah and one of the largest higher-education institutions in the Kurdistan Region. Closest public-sector peer for UHD on geography, scale, and program breadth.
• American University of Iraq, Sulaimani: English-language private university located in Sulaymaniyah offering undergraduate and graduate programs. Directly comparable to UHD as a private, non-profit higher-education institution operating in the same city and competing for the same local and international student pool.
• University of Kurdistan Hewlêr: Private university in Erbil offering undergraduate and graduate programs across multiple disciplines. Comparable as a private higher-education peer within the Kurdistan Region competing for regional and international students.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/uhdeduiq
• Facebookfacebook.com/uhd.edu.iq
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/uhd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about University of Human Development