University of Kurdistan

1 University of Kurdistan Values and Vision University of Kurdistan (UOK) is committed to providing an environment which nurtures training of human resources in a creative, responsible, motivated, conscious and disciplined way based on Islamic and moral values. UOK is bound to respect and promote the lofty principles of academic culture based on knowledge and professionalism and leading to the development of constructive collaboration with national and international HEIs and research centres.

Mission Statement The University of Kurdistan as a leading comprehensive educational institute relies on its own young and motivated lecturers and invaluable assets, and uses innovative training methods and technologies to train a committed and skilled workforce to meet the challenges and problems of society at local and global levels. Moreover, UOK attempts to meet the diverse needs of the community in various fields and at various levels by nurturing applied research, developing new frontiers of knowledge, and offering consultancy services.

Overview of UOK The University of Kurdistan commenced its activities as the Higher College of Sanandaj, an affiliate of Tarbi- at Moallem (Teacher Training Institute), Tehran in the academic year 1974-1975. Its first intake of students was in the field of Mathematics Teacher Training. In the following academic year, the college became an off campus faculty of Kermanshah’s Razi University and was thereafter named the Sanandaj Faculty of Teacher Training. In addition to admitting students in Mathematics Teacher Training, it began to accept students in Chem- istry and English. By expanding its pedagogical activities and conducting research in a wide variety of fields, this teacher training unit was granted university sta- tus by the Ministry of Higher Education and Culture in 1991. Henceforth it became known as the Univer- sity of Kurdistan. Since then a great range of courses at various levels have been added to the university’s graduate and postgraduate programme lists. Currently, University of Kurdistan has over 10000 students (1.7 percent international), of which over 30 percent are postgraduate students. University of Kurd- istan has an autonomous college (Pardis), 8 faculties and 50 departments offering 187 undergraduate and postgraduate programs. Moreover, UOK employs approximately 360 full-time academic faculty members

2 with over 95 per cent having Assistant Professorship or above grading (17 Full Professors and 82 Associate Professors, Assistant Professor 242). In addition, over 380 part-time teaching staff are employed and the number of administrative staff totals 385. Currently, the university has 8 research institutes and 6 academic journals and has its own pub- lishing press with many yearly publications. Moreover, UOK has plentiful research and teaching laboratories to aid students and staff at all faculties. UOK has a non-centralized administrative structure managed by the Board of Trustees (which has the highest position in the University and overlooks future educational expansion, financial projections and other major plans of the University), the Chancellor, 5 Vice Chancellors (Vice Chancellors for Educational and Academic Affairs, Research Affairs, Student Affairs, Financial Affairs and Cultural and Social Affairs), Board of Directors and the University Council.

3 Faculty of Agriculture The Faculty of Agriculture was founded jointly with the Faculty of Natural Resources in 1991. In 2007, the Faculty of Agriculture separated from the Faculty of Natural Resources and commenced its academic teaching and research activities on an independent basis. It is currently one of the major providers of research in agricultural fields in the region. Both training and research are undertaken at the highest professional level and a wide range of agriculture based scientific courses are offered to graduate and postgraduate students. The faculty›s mission is to develop resources and technology to provide contemporary and future needs of the agricultural sector of Kurdistan province, to advance and disseminate knowledge and to provide advice and guidance in the field of agriculture for sustainable economic development. The faculty has 8 departments, offering 12 undergraduate degree programmes and 24 postgraduate degree programmes (including 7 PhD degree programmes), comprising of:

Biosystems Engineering Water Sciences and Engineering Agricultural Economics Plant Protection Agronomy and Plant Breeding Animal Science Soil Science Horticultural Science & Engineering

4 5 At present, the Faculty of Agriculture has over 1000 students and 69 full-time academic members of staff. The faculty has 28 laboratories including Soil Chemistry Laboratory, Soil Physics Laboratory, Plant Breeding Laboratory, Plant Pathology, Genetics Laboratory, Entomology Labo- ratory, Poultry Production Unit, Quail Production Unit, Dairy Cattle Production Unit. In addition, this faculty has four greenhouses and 50 hectares of agricultural research fields. The below table lists all degree programmes offered by the faculty.

Faculty of Agriculture List of Degree Programmes

Department of Animal Science Animal Science BSc Animal Breeding MSc&PhD Animal Physiology MSc&PhD Animal Nutrition MSc&PhD Veterinary Laboratory Sciences BSc Department of Agronomy & Plant Breeding Production and Plant Genetic Engineering (Agrotechnology & Biotechnology) BSc/MSc Plant Genetic and Breeding MSc Agroecology MSc Agricultural Biotechnology MSc&PhD Agronomy (Crop Physiology) PhD Agrotechnology-Weed sciences MSc Agrotechnology-Seed science and technology MSc Agroecology MSc&PhD Department of Horticultural Sciences Food Science & Technology BSc Landscape Engineering BSc Horticultural Science & Engineering BSc Horticultural Science & Engineering: Fruit Trees MSc Horticultural Science & Engineering: Vegetables MSc Horticultural Science & Engineering: Medicinal Plants MSc Horticultural Science & Engineering: Ornamental Plants MSc Greenhouse Crops Production MSc Department of Food industry Food Science and Engineering BSc Department of Soil Sciences Soil Science & Engineering BSc

6 Faculty of Agriculture List of Degree Programmes

Soil Biology and Biotechnology MSc Soil Physics & Conservation MSc Soil Resources & Land Evaluation MSc Department of Agricultural Economy Agricultural Economics BSc Agricultural Policy & Development MSc Agricultural Extension & Education MSc Department of Plant Protection Plant Protection BSc Agricultural Entomology MSc Plant Pathology MSc&PhD Department of Water Sciences & Engineering Water Sciences & Engineering BSc Irrigation & Drainage Engineering MSc Department of Biosystems Engineering Mechanics & Biosystems Engineering BSc Design and Construction MSc Postharvest Technology MSc Food Industry Machinery Engineering BSc Department of Agriculturul Extensicn and Education Sustainable Agriculturul Extensicn and Education, Invention and Agricultural MSc Entrepreneurship Sustainable Agriculturul Extensicn and Natural Industries MSc

7 Faculty of Art and Architecture Because of the importance of Art, architecture and planning at national and international levels and the rich history of the arts in western Iran, especially in Kurdistan, the University of Kurd- istan launched programs in the aforementioned fields in the early years of its establishment as a university. The University of Kurdistan commenced offering degree programs in Architecture, Planning and Music in 1999, 2006 and 2016, respectively. These two departments were initially part of the Faculty of Engineering but in 2012 became part of the newly established Faculty of Art and Architecture. In light of its expansion and development plans, the Faculty of Art and Architecture is in the process of establishing degree programs in Handicraft as well as aiming to offer its existing degree programs at PhD level in near future. In total, the faculty currently has three departments: Urban Planning Architecture Music (Iranian)

8 The Faculty of Art & Architecture has 12 full-time academic staff and numerous part-time staff with a total student population of 302. Staff in the faculty undertake research of the highest quality and renowned for its interdiscipli- nary orientation. The research fulfills University of Kurdistan’s mission to further its impact and national and international ranking by conducting research that shapes the actions of government, industry, and cultural life through practical and action-led modes of research and engage- ment. Research in the faculty is clustered around a number of research themes including architecture, urbanism public sphere, environmental psychology, informal settlements and sustainability. The Urban Studies Journal was first published in 2010 with the aim of focusing on the results of scientific research and experiences of cities. It welcomes all original submissions that extent our understanding of the urban condition and the rapid changes taking place in cities in Iran and across the globe, whether from an empirical, theoretical, or a policy perspective. In addition, due to the research background of the Urban Planning Departmental staff, our faculty is pursu- ing to launch a Center of Excellence in Urban Regeneration and Upgrading by the start of next year. The main goal of this center is to provide the required settings for informal settlements and rundown urban textures studies based on the Urban Regeneration and Upgrading approach.

9 The Faculty of Art and Architecture’s current building has been built on 4600 square meters of land. In addition to administrative spaces, faculty members’ and departmental heads’ rooms, the present building has 6 design studios and workshops, computer center, materials and construction workshop, 2 classes for postgraduate students, 4 classes for undergraduate students, thesis defense hall, one large conference hall and a special exhibition hall. The Faculty building is located on campus with easy access to all University services. The students have access to the building six days a week and can use their dedicated studio spaces at all times with computing facilities and social space. As part of wider campus developments, the faculty has undertaken its own development projects over recent years, including site construction and landscaping. Throughout 2016 funds were invested in a new building annexed to the current building that will provide purpose built, expanded workshops and a dedicated fabrication suite. The workshops will have dedicated spaces for Music department and the soon to be established Handicrafts Department.

Faculty of Agriculture List of Degree Programmes

Department of Architecture Architecture MA/MSc & PhD Department of Urban Planning Urbanism BA/BSc Urban Planning MA/MSc Urban Design MA/MSc Department of Music Performance of Iranian Music BA/BSc Department of Handicraft Handicraft BA/BSc

10 11 Faculty of Engineering The Faculty of Engineering is one of the largest and most successful of its kind in Iran. From its foundations in 1995, the faculty has pursued excellence and innovation in education and- re search. Its alumni are to be found as leaders and decision makers in industry and the community. With over 2100 students, this faculty plays a leading role in the delivery of undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes providing a focus on sustainability as well as core engineering knowledge preparing students to confidently meet the challenges of contemporary global, national and regional society. It is widely believed that engineers are uniquely placed to under- stand, meet and solve those challenges. The 62 full-time academic staff of the faculty are recognized nationwide leaders in their fields. The faculty continues to forge new links with industry and community partners to ensure a con- tinuing real-world focus for both teaching and research.The Faculty of Engineering at present has 7 Departments offering 9 undergraduate degree programmes and 21 postgraduate degree programmes (including 3 PhD programmes) as shown in the table below:

Department of Chemical Engineering Department of Civil Engineering Department of Computer & IT Engineering Department of Electrical Engineering Department of Industrial Engineering Department of Mechanical Engineering Department of Mine Engineering

12 Faculty of Engineering

13 Faculty of Engineering List of Degree Programmes

Department of Chemical Engineering Chemical Engineering BSc Chemical Engineering – Design Process BSc Chemical Engineering- Thermokinetics and Catalyst MSc Department of Civil Engineering Civil Engineering BSc Remote Sensing MSc Earthquake Engineering MSc Hydraulics & Water Resources Management MSc Structural Engineering MSc&PhD Department of Electrical Engineering Electrical Engineering BSc / MSc Electronic Integrated Circuits MSc Micro and Nano-Electronic devices MSc Communication Systems MSc Electrical Control Engineering MSc Power Systems Engineering BSc / MSc&PhD Department of Computer Engineering and IT Computer Software Engineering BSc Information Technology BSc Artificial Intelligence MSc Artificial Intelligence and Robotics MSc Department of Industrial Engineering Industrial Engineering BSc / MSc&PhD Logistics & Supply Chain MSc System Optimization MSc Department of Mechanical Engineering Mechanical Engineering BSc Mechanical Engineering - Applied Design MSc Energy Conversion- Heat & Fluids MSc Department of Mine Engineering Mine Engineering BSc Mineral Exploration MSc

14 15 Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences The Faculty of Literature and Humanities was officially divided into two separate faculties in 2012: the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and the Faculty of Literature and For- eign Languages. The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences currently has 11 departments that are involved in teaching and research activities. It has approximately 2500 students who are on 9 programmes leading to an undergraduate degree, 18 programmes leading to Master’s degree and 4 programmes leading to a PhD:

16 Accounting Business Management Educational Sciences Physical Education Law Shafe’ee Jurisprudence and Law Psychology Sociology Counseling Economics Islamic Studies

This faculty has two student computer centers, an advanced computer teaching, a sport sciences laboratory and research centre with latest equipment, two other laboratories for counseling and psychology departments, Hazhar Library, and conference and seminar facilities including Ferdowsi, Mastoureh Ard- alan and Mawlawi Halls. The Faculty of Hu- manities and Social Sciences currently has 64 permanent academic members of staff and numerous part-time teaching staff.

17 Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences List of Degree Programmes

Department of Accounting Accounting BA/MA Department of Business Administration Business Administration BA Tourism Management BA Marketing Management MA MBA MA Enter preneurship Management MA Department of Psychology Psychology BA Clinical Psychology MA Cognitive Psychology MA Department of Economic Sciences Economic Sciences – Theoretical Economics BA Economic Sciences MA Economic Development & Planning MA Economy BA Economic Sciences- Energy Economy MA Department of Educational Administration & Planning Educational Administration & Planning BA Curriculum Planning MA Educational Planning MA Educational Administration MA&PhD Higher Education Development Planning PhD Department of Counselling Family Counselling MA School Counselling MA Department of Law Law BA Criminal Law & Criminology MA Department of Shafe’ee Jurisprudence & Law Shafe’ee Jurisprudence & Law BA/MA Department of Physical Education Sports Life Sciences BA

18 Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences List of Degree Programmes

Sports Management MA Sports Physiology MA Marketing Management in Sport MA&PhD Sport Physiology - Sports Biochemistry and Metabolism PhD Department of Sociology Social Sciences Research BA Sociology MA

19 Faculty of Literature and Foreign Languages The Faculty of Literature and Foreign Languages officially began its teaching and research activities in October 2012 and prior to that it was part of the Faculty of Literature and Humanities. It is worth mentioning that the disbanded Faculty of Literature and Humanities was established in 1991 as the second faculty of the University of Kurdistan, but began its teaching activities much earlier in 1976 by accepting students majoring in English language teacher training and later establishing 14 departments. The Faculty of Literature and Foreign Languages currently has 4 departments offering 5 undergraduate programmes, 5 Master’s programmes and 1 PhD programme to over 760 students:

Arabic Language and Literature English Language and Literature Kurdish Language and Literature Persian Language and Literature

At present, this faculty has 30 full-time academic members of staff and many part-time teaching staff.

20 Faculty of Literature and Foreign Languages List of Degree Programmes

Department of Arabic Language & Literature Arabic Language & Literature BA/MA Department of English Literature & Linguistics English Language & Literature BA/MA English Language Teaching BA/MA Linguistics MA Department of Persian Language & Literature Persian Language & Literature BA/MAPhD Department of Kurdish Language and Literature Kurdish Language and Literature BA

21 Faculty of Natural Resources The Faculty of Natural Resources was found- low table). The faculty has 34 full-time and ed jointly with the Faculty of Agriculture in more than 24 part-time academic staff that 1991. In 2007, the Faculty of Natural Resourc- offer teaching and research services to over es disbanded from the Faculty of Agriculture 1000 students. This faculty has various lab- and commenced its academic teaching and oratories and research centers including: Re- research activities on an independent basis. search aquarium, Fish Pathobiology Labora- The Faculty of Natural Resources focuses on tory, Fish Biology, Range and Forest Biology the conservation, protection, rehabilitation, Laboratory, Forest Biometry Laboratory, Cli- management and enhancement of renew- matology Laboratory, Geomorphology Labo- able natural resources including: forests, ratory, Herbarium, GIS and RS Centre, Cartog- rangelands, water reservoirs, soil, biodiversi- raphy Centre, Classic and Automatic Synoptic ty and related resources. Currently, the Fac- Station, Animal Biology laboratory, Laborato- ulty of Natural Resources has 6 departments rial Animal captivity, Taxidermy center, Soil, (as listed below) that offer 6 undergraduate Water and Air Quality Control Laboratory. programs and 13 Masters programs (see be-

Departments: Forestry Rangeland and Watershed Management Aquaculture Environmental Sciences Geomorphology Climatology

22 Natural Resources Faculty Programs

Department of Environmental Sciences Environmental Engineering BSc Biodiversity and Conservation Biology MSc Land-use Planning & Sustainable Development MSc Environmental Pollution (Air, Soil and Water) MSc Environmental Technologies MSc Department of Fisheries Fisheries Engineering BSc Aquaculture MSc Fish Biology and Aquatic Animals Ecology MSc Department of Forestry Forest Management MSc Forest Biology & Silviculture MSc Agroforestry MSc Department of Rangeland & Watershed Management Rangeland & Watershed Engineering BSc Rangeland Management MSc Watershed Management MSc Eco-Hydrology MSc Watershed Engineering- Soil and Water Conservation MSc Watershed Engineering- River and Flood BSc Department of Geomorphology Geomorphology Engineering BSc Natural Hazards MSc Hydro-Geomorphology MSc Department of Climatology Climatology BSc Applied Climatology MSc Geography BSc

23 Faculty of Science The Faculty of Science is known as the oldest faculty at the University of Kurdistan with over 40 years’ ex- perience and has had a crucial role in teaching and research in the province. The Faculty of Science currently has the honor of having seven academic members of staff who hold full professorships, 20 Associate Profes- sors and 40 Assistant Professors. In addition, it the faculty employs numerous part-time academic members of staff. The faculty has six departments:

Biological Sciences Chemistry Earth Sciences Mathematics Physics Statistics

24 Faculty of science has over 1100 students on 7 programmes leading to an undergraduate degree, 17 programmes leading to a Master’s degree and 15 programmes leading to a PhD. Moreover, it has many teaching and research laboratories including 12 Chemistry laboratories, 8 Physics laboratories, and 5 Biology laboratories, 3 Mathematics and Statistics laboratories and 1 Geology laboratory.

25 Faculty of Science List of Degree Programmes

Department of Chemistry Applied Chemistry BSc Pure Chemistry BSc Nano Chemistry MSc&PhD Polymer Chemistry MSc Analytical Chemistry MSc&PhD Inorganic Chemistry MSc&PhD Organic Chemistry MSc&PhD Physical Chemistry MSc&PhD Department of Mathematics Mathematics and Applications BSc Pure Mathematics- Topology MSc Applied Mathematics— Numerical Analysis MSc&PhD Pure Mathematics – Mathematical Analysis MSc&PhD Pure Mathematics – Algebra MSc&PhD Department of Statistics Statistics BSc Mathematical Statistics MSc Department of Physics Physics BSc Fundamental Physics (Theoretical Physics) MSc Solid State Physics MSc&PhD Theoretical Physics - Quantum Optics PhD Theoretical Physics – Astronomy and Astrophysics PhD Theoretical Physics- Quantum Information and Computation PhD Theoretical Physics- Gravity & Cosmology PhD Photonics MSc&PhD Condenesd Matter Physics MSc Department of Biology Biotechnology BSc Cellular & Molecular Biology MSc Biochemistry MSc Department of Computer Science Computer Science BSc

26 Faculty of Literature and Foreign Languages List of Degree Programmes

Department of Earth Sciences Earth Sciences BSc Geochemistry MSc

27 Bijar Faculty of Science and Engineering

The Bijar Faculty of Science and Engineer- ing was established in September 2014 and commenced its pedagogical activities in the fields of Computer Science, Physics and Sta- tistics as listed below. As its name indicates, this faculty is located in the city of Bijar, a city in Kudistan Province.

Bijar Faculty of Science & Engineering List of Degree Programmes

Department of Computer Science Computer Science BSc Department of Physics Physics MSc Department of Statistics Statistics & Applications BSc Department of Civil Engineering Civil Engineering BSc

28 The City of Bijar This city is situated 140 kilometers to the north of Sanandaj, between Sanandaj and Zanjan. Some believe that the word Bijar is originated from the word ‘BIDZAR’ which means”a place where there are many Willows. Due to its high altitude this city is known as the “roof of Iran”. This region is world renowned for its carpets and rugs and many inhabitants earn a living from this industry. Other souvenirs of the province include Euphorbia helioscopia bread and Sohani Halva. Its main agricultural products are wheat and grapes. The most important cultural attractions of the city are as follows:

The Ancient Castle of Ghamchoghay

The ruins of this castle are 45 Kilometers away from Bijar. This castle was built in the Bijar Faculty of Science 8th and 9th century BC. It is surrounded by deep valleys and overlooks Shahan valley. It is and believed that the castle was in use even until Engineering the Sassanid and Islamic periods.

The Bazaar of Bijar

This bazaar is in the center of Bijar. This famous Bazaar (Timcheh), which is named after Haj Shahbaz, is considered to be one of the most beautiful architectural works of the Is- lamic period in the province.

The Bijar Protected Zone

This environmentally protected zone is located in the northeast of the province covering an area of approximately 23,000 hectares. Very rare animal species can be found in this area. Tourists and lovers of nature are well advised to visit this zone.

29 UOK Autonomous College (Pardis)

Following the remarkable success of Universi- ty of Kurdistan’s educational and research activities, the Council of Higher Education in July 2013 agreed to the establishment of an Auton- omous College citing the existence of adequate infrastructure such as adequate physical space, sufficient human resources including faculty members and experienced administrative staff, workshops, laboratories, computer sites, library resources, study halls, sports facilities, as well as performance and management of the university campus. This onsite but independent college currently offers 22 Master’s programmes including Urban Planning, Construction Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Agricultural Economics, Pomology, and Sports Physiology. The Autonomous College aims to expand its list of offered courses in the near future.

30 31 32 33 Research Institutes

34 Nanotechnology Research Institute The Nanotechnology Research Institute of the University of Kurdistan conducts research and provides guidance on synthesis and applications of nanomaterials. This research institute is sup- ported by the Iranian Nanotechnology Initiative and the Ministry of Science, Research and Tech- nology. More than 40 academic staff and postgraduate students collaborate on research projects at the institute and since its establishment in 2011, have published more than 60 academic papers in internationally renowned journals. It has three research groups: Nano Chemistry, Na- no-Materials and Theoretical Studies and Sim- ulation. The institute is equipped with the latest devices including XRD, AFM, FESEM, AG and Particle Size Analyzer.

35 Smart/Micro Grids Research Center

The Smart/Micro Grids Research Center (SMGRC) is an international research center officially established in November 2016. The SMGRC provides a rich source of training, testing, and experimental laboratorial facilities for various smart grid and microgrid (MG) academic/industrial projects, specifically in the area of advanced robust and intelligent control synthesis and analysis methodologies. In addition to the modeling and simulation environment for training and educational purposes, a wide range of distributed generators (e.g., PV panel, wind turbine, diesel generator), energy capacitor systems, grid components, modules, and sub-systems are available for different classes of testing and validation capa- bilities. The SMGRC flexibility allows working on multiple configurations in viewpoint of MG types (DC, AC, and hybrid), operating modes (grid-connected and islanded) and multiple MGs clusters. The central core of the existing platform is a real-time simulator that can be connected to hardware equipment through power amplifiers. The University of Kurdistan and West Regional Electric Co. (WREC) are the main domestic supporters of the SMGRC. The SMGRC team comprises of a continuously increasing number of Master’s and PhD students, visiting researchers, and postdocs covers various aspects of research in smart grid and microgrids.

36 Center of Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT) The center of computer emergency response team (CERT) at the University of Kurdistan is con- cerned with handling computer and network security system incidents. Considering cyber security challenges, CERT center focuses on response to security vulnerabilities in web applications, networked systems and software products. This center’s mission is to enhance the security of cyberspace products through traffic monitoring, malware analysis, penetration testing, and in- trusion detection. Moreover, CERT as a research center contributes in implementing information security tools through research and development programs. It also conducts workshops and short educational programs in the field of ICT security for students and IT professionals.

37 Kurdish Studies Research Institute The Kurdish Studies Research Institute was formally established in 2000 by the author- ity of the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology. This research institute has three research groups: Kurdish Literature and Lin- guistics, Kurdish Cultural Studies and History and Kurdish Strategic Studies and Develop- ment. The main goal of the institute is to undertake research in the fields of Kurdish language, literature and culture and to represent their richness to the full extent. Furthermore, it recently became successful in offering a degree programme in Kurdish Language and Literature at undergraduate level and aims to introduce the subject at postgraduate levels also. The numerous projects and conferences that have transpired at this institute serve the aforementioned objectives. Projects accom- plished thus far include the publication of the University of Kurdistan Persian - Kurdish Dictionary, the quarterly Journal of Kurdish Literature, and many books related to Kurd- ish language and literature. In 2010, the First International Conference on Kurdish Liter- ature took place at the Faculty of Literature and Humanities, UOK, organized by the institute which was followed by the First Confer- ence on Ardalan Dynasty in 2011. This was followed by three commemoration ceremonies of Dr. Maheen Dokht Motamadi (2014), Ahmad Ghazi and Ahmad Sharifi (2015). In addition, regular training workshops are held by the institute and a valuable reference library with more than 7500 books in the field of Kurdish studies is open to interested researchers

38 Breeding and Development Research Institute Because of adequate rainfall and its location in a mountainous region, the Province of Kurdistan, Iran, has a vast range of medicinal plants. UOK’s reasons for establishment of the Medicinal Plants Breeding and Development Research Institute lies in the fact that it has 11 departments linked to this field. Furthermore, UOK has suitable laboratories (including GC-MS, various kinds of photometers and chromatography laboratories), vast agricultural fields and several greenhouses which make it an ideal place to carry out research. This research institute has two research groups: Medicinal Plants Breeding and Cultivation and Herbal Medicinal Use

Some objectives of the institute include: identifying medicinal plants of the region and compiling a complete encyclopaedia, extraction and isolation of active medicinal plants’ compounds, propagation and breeding of medicinal plants for commercial benefits, introduction of new medicinal plant species based on climatic characteristics of the province, and increasing the use of medicinal plants for human health purposes.

39 Strawberry Breeding and Agronomic Research Institute Strawberry is one of the most important products of Kurdistan Province and enjoys first place in the country in terms of production (37069 tons per annum) and total area of land dedicated to its cultivation (2283 hectares) in the province. Kurdistan Province produces 60% of all strawberries produced in Iran. Applying new and scientific methods in the production of strawberries is of great importance. University of Kurdistan’s Faculty of Agriculture established the Strawberry Breeding and Agronomic Research Institute in 2000 with the aim of providing a scientific- re search basis for the study of its plant pathology and the latest and best methods of strawberry cultivation and breeding. This research institute has two research groups: Strawberry Biotech- nology and Breeding and Strawberry Agronomics, Economics and Marketing.

The overall goals of this research institute is devoted to: the study of genetic diversity of native species of strawberry, gene resistance to pests and diseases, gene resistance to drought and salinity on the cultivars in the region, cultivation of common cultures for the production of healthy seedlings and their introduction for proliferation at aggregate level.

40 The Centre for Research and Development of Northern Zagros Forestry The Centre for Research and Development of Northern Zagros Forestry is located in Baneh and was established in 2005 with the aims of the continuous improvement of forestry project quality through applied research and development, monitoring of forestry projects, system reformation and research. The fundamental philosophy of this centre is to ensure stability of the northern Zagros forests. To achieve this aim, the centre cooperates with executive agencies (Natural Resources and Wa- tershed Management Organisation, Ministry of Energy), facilitators (Global Environment Facility - Small Grants Programme) and postgraduate students (Master’s and PhD theses). Research is carried out in the following fields: forestry, social and economic aspects of forests, silviculture, forest engineering and exploitation, agroforestry, reformation of natural resources management, improvement of forestry executive operation methods, preparation and monitoring of forestry projects.

41 Water Sciences and Engineering Center

In 2013, the Water Sciences and Engineering Centre of the University of Kurdistan was established in view of the important role of water in the development process of Kurdistan Province. The centre currently has two research groups: Hydraulics and Water Resources Engineering

Some of the aims and objectives of the centre are outlined below: defining and implementing research projects in the fields of development, comprehensive management and sustainable use of surface and underground water resources of the province, evaluation of hydraulic performance of dams, irrigation and drainage networks, urban and rural water sanitation, providing practical solutions for the allocation and optimum use of water and reduction of water losses in the various sectors of irrigation water management, drinking water, and hydro- electric power generation industry, use of new technology and its localization in the province’s water industry.

42 UOK Incubation Centre Incubation centres are set up to create, develop and develop small and science based businesses. This centre provides office, technical, and laboratory space with support services and minimal cost for new companies as well as net- working and other side services. In fact, incubation centres provide space, support services, and commonly used equipment for entrepreneurship firms to help entrepreneurs and small companies contribute to the creation and development of their own businesses. Moreover, incubation centres can overcome societal challenges such as declining incomes, rising unem- ployment despite having a young and educated population and improve the mental and physical well-being of graduates and employees by upgrading the skill levels of the province’s workforce. This is carried out by providing support to innovative companies in creating employment in the tranquil environment of this centre.

UOK Incubation Centre’s Fields of Activities: The design and implementation of specialized and computational software Information and Communication Technology (IT & ICT) Engineering Nanotechnology Science Agricultural Science Some of the aims and objectives of the centre Major Activities and Missions: are outlined below: Creating the necessary space for the expansion and growth of small and medium-sized units of knowledge and active technology in the areas referred to in the fields of activity of the Center. Providing set-up for commercialization of research achievements. Attracting and retaining the country’s scientific elites in high tech research and production projects. Creating entrepreneurship and supporting the innovation and creativity of young researchers. Boosting the local economy based on the activities of the center. Trying to create suitable job opportunities for attracting entrepreneurs and university graduates in the field of technology. Production and development of products and technology processes prior to entering markets.

43 International Relations and Scientific Cooperation Office The International Relations and Scientific Cooperation Office was established in Octo- ber 2010 to coordinate and implement Uni- versity of Kurdistan’s international activities. The concept of higher education internationalization is an important one in this age of global knowledge economies and impacts society economically, socially and political- ly. Thus, the need for replacing traditional, information based teacher-directed rote learning with a new type of learning that emphasizes creating, applying, scrutinizing, and integrating knowledge and engaging in collaborative learning throughout the learning lifespan is crucial. The Internation- al Relations and Scientific Cooperation- Of fice activities are therefore geared towards achieving these objectives. Postal Address: International Relation Due to the significant activities in interna- and Scientific Cooperation Office tional affairs, University of Kurdistan ranked Univercity of Kurdistan, Pasdaran Boule- as the best university for international sci- vard, P.O.Box 416, I.R.IRAN entific activities among the Iranian universi- Telephone / Fax: +98 87 33624020 ties in 2017. Email: [email protected]

International Projects • Internationalization of Higher Education in Iran (IHEI), under Erasmus+ program-capacity building: Three years’ project (2015-2018) in cooperation of three European universities and six Iranians. • Student/professor Exchange with European universities (including University of Jaen, Spain- FH Joanneum University of Applied Sciences, Austria- ICD International Business School, France) under Erasmus+ program-KA107.

44 Responsibilities: • Drafting and creating the university’s Inter- fairs including: nationalization Strategy and a related action • processing international student appli- plan. Working with departments to develop cations received by email or in person and their international agendas. This includes determining whether students meet neces- international agreements, funding oppor- sary criteria and have required documents tunities, information on student exchanges, and information, participation in visits and profile-raising. • sending students applications onto • Dealing with all matters related to Nation- Vice-Chancellor of Education and Academic al and International Academic Cooperation Affairs office and or relevant departments Agreements. for initial admission approval, • Dealing with all official foreign corre- • corresponding with Overseas Student Af- spondence. fairs Office of the Ministry of Science- Re • Carrying out all affairs relating to academic search and Technology for final admission staff participation in international scientific approval and student visa and residency gatherings abroad. issuance, • Providing services related to academic • carrying out initial registration of overseas staff overseas visits for scientific-academic students and then referring them to rele- cooperation and teaching. vant administrative units for registration • Inviting Iranian and non-Iranian experts completion, accommodation, Student ID or academics living abroad for scientific ac- cards, and fee payments ademic collaboration. Hosting visits by del- • foreign student insurance processing, egations from international universities and • providing statistical information regarding other public bodies to University of Kurdis- overseas students to internal departments tan. If your department is planning to host and external organisations as and when an international visit and you would like our needed. involvement, please contact us. • Updating the International Relations & • Dealing with visa issuance for official for- Scientific Cooperation Office website -infor eign guests of the university. mation. • Assisting with organizing international • Writing referral letters for students and ac- conferences and obtaining funding. ademic staff to the Ministry of Science, Re- • Developing strategic alliances and manag- search and Technology for visa and foreign ing institutional partnerships and collabora- currency related issues. tions. • Issuing certificates of employment and • Compiling the university’s brochures in study in English on request. English, Persian, Kurdish and Arabic. In addition, collating and translating all information necessary for marketing and advertising the university’s services for prospective students and organisations through different media forms. • Dealing with all International Student af-

45 NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS The University of Kurdistan has national and international agreements with higher educational institutes listed in the table below in order to further its internationalization strategies. The below academic cooperation agreements, in brief, cite terms for: • exchange of student and academic and non-academic staff exchange, • joint research projects, joint seminars, workshops and conferences, • exchange of scientific materials, data and publications, • collaboration on split-side PhD programmes, • engaging in other joint activities for mutual benefit.

46 47 International Center for Teaching Persian Language to non-Persian Speakers

The University of Kurdistan’s Internation- classical and modern forms of the language al Center for Teaching Persian Language is virtually the same and is relatively easy to to non-Persian Speakers was officially es- learn. Nouns have no gender and there are no tablished with the approval of the Minis- articles. try of Science, Research and Technology on • One of the oldest texts, discovered in 6th 26/07/2017 and soon after began accepting century BC, is the clay Cyrus cylinder inscribed students from a wide range of educational in Babylonian cuneiform script, which is the backgrounds for learning Persian. This centre earliest known writing system in the world. currently has three well-equipped language Persian writing has evolved over the years laboratories and highly qualified teaching staff and this would be classed as ‘Old Persian’. The to assist language learners. Not only does this text refers to the Great King Cyrus of Persia, centre offer students an opportunity to dis- his genealogy, his great conquest of Babylon cover a language but also it offers an oppor- in 539BC and capture of Nabodinus, the last tunity to discover the Iranian culture, history Babylonian king. The cylinder is currently on and way of life as visits to cinemas, museums display at the British Museum. and other places of interest are included in • The first handwritten book dates back to the course. So why learn Persian? Here are 1055. It was a medical book by Asadi Tusi, an some good reasons and interesting facts: eminent Persian poet and linguist. • Studying Persian provides an entry into a • The Iranian educational system is one of rich and diverse culture that produced major the most advanced in the region and has epic and Sufi poets such as Ferdowsi, Rumi produced some of the greatest scientists and Hafez, exquisite miniature paintings, fine and academicians in the world. Thus, Iran is carpets and world-class films. a country that attracts many foreign students to continue their studies and learning the language is an essential aspect. • Persian is an important language of the Mid- dle East and Central Asia. It is known as Farsi in Iran, Dari in Afghanistan and Tajik in Tajik- istan. It has over 120 million native speakers, ranking it among the world’s 20 most widely spoken first languages. Persian is an Indo-Eu- ropean language, related to English, French and German and written in Arabic script. • Learning some Persian will certainly assist with Arabic, Kurdish, Urdu and Hindi. Similar- ities across the languages as a percentage are 90% of the facts, 40% of the words and 30% of the grammar. • Persian has not changed significantly in over a millennium, the basic grammar for the

48 Areas where Persian is the predominant language

Don’t even think, just let yourself dream. Thoughts are veils that hide the moon’s bright face. The heart’s a moon, where thinking has no place. Toss these thoughts away into the stream. Rumi (1207 - 1273)

49 Geography Kurdistan Province located in the northwestern part of Iran covers a wide geographic area (28,203 kilometers) and has over 200 kms of shared border with Iraqi Kurdistan. Its neighbouring provinces are West Azarbaijan (north) and Zanjan (north and east), Hamedan (east), Kerman- shah (south) Based on the last official state divisions in 2003, the province consists of 9 cities, 23 towns, 23 districts, 79 rural districts and 1,767 villages. The capital of the province is Sanandaj which is 512 kilometers from Tehran. The major cities of this province are Baneh, Bijar, Diwan- dareh , Saqiz, Qorveh, Kamyaran, Sarvabad and Mariwan (see map). As per the last population census in 2003, Kurdistan Province has 1,574,119 inhabitants and the most populated cities being, in the order mentioned, Sanandaj (419,750 people) and Saghez.

50 51 Natural and Climatic Conditions Kurdistan Province is a mountainous region fall in the province is 500 mm and the highest with an average altitude of 200 0 meters average annual rainfall occurs in the city of above sea level, making it the highest prov- Marivan (800 mm). In addition, the province ince in the country. It extends over high plains has many rivers, lakes, and natural ice-stores. and within vast valleys of the region. The The province’s rivers normally join two river highest and the lowest points of the province basins: the Caspian Sea basin and Lake Ur- are Mount Shaho and Aloot region with alti- mia Basin and some also enter Iraq. Ghazal- tudes of 3300 and 900 meters , respectively avzan River and its tributaries of Qomchoqay, making the height difference between the Avezandareh, Traval and Shoor flow into the highest and the lowest points of the prov- Caspian Sea. Zarrinehroud River, Khorkhora ince 2,400 meters. This difference, in turn, River and Siminroud River and their tributar- creates different kinds of climates in the re- ies join Lake Urmia basin. Sirvan River is the gion with mild springs and summers and cold longest river with the largest watershed and winters. Other significant mountain peaks of number of tributaries in Kurdistan Province. this province are Abidar, Soltan Serajeddin, It runs between deep valleys and has a high Awalan (to the south of Sanandaj), Shahne- water flow rate making it ideal for canoeing shin (in Zhawarood), Kocheksar (to the south and white water rafting. It eventually joins of Sanandaj), and Charkhalan (to the south- the Tigris River in Iraq. west of Sanandaj). Kurdistan Province has one natural lake (Zari- Altitude development direction and estab- var Lake in Marivan) and many artificial lakes lishment is in such a way to make the first such as Gheshlagh (15 kilometers north of rains fall on the highlands of the area to the Gheshlagh Dam), Gawshan (45kms south of west of the country. Atmospheric fallout is in Sanandaj behind Gawshan Dam), and Bukan the form of snow at high altitudes and rain (north of city of Saghez). Lake Zarivar pro- in the lower parts. The average annual rain- vides scenic views and lies at the feet high

52 mountains. Its water is sparklingly fresh. The vandarreh. It is a not only a natural cave but lake has an average depth of 3 metres but its also an archeological site as it was used by hu- maximum depth is of 50 metres. Its length is 5 mans in prehistory. The cave has four floors km and has a maximum width of 1.7 km. This with room entrances and windows. On one of beautiful lake is surrounded by thick forests the hall ceilings on the third floor, the name of and provides ample opportunity for fishing the Greek god Hercules is carved and is there- and water-sports. fore known as the Temple of Hercules. On the In addition to the many lakes and rivers, fourth floor of the cave, tiles and ancient -ar Kurdistan has the benefit of many resourceful tifacts have been discovered which testify to mineral water springs. The most outstanding human habitation of the cave in the Parthian of these are: Govaz to the northwest of Kam- and Sassanid eras and until the Islamic peri- yaran, Abetalkh close to Bijar and Baba Gar- od. Another prominent cave in the region is gar to the north of Ghorveh. Shoovi Cave which is 267 metres long and lies Forests in the province cover an area of 320 near the city of Baneh. hectares beginning in northern parts of Baneh The unique topography of this province, its and extending to Mariwan and western parts beautiful nature and climatic variations have of Kurdistan Province. The forests are home turned this area into an attractive spot for to many varieties of trees including oak, oak tourists. According to world standards, tem- apple, wild pear, ash and wild sour cherry peratures between 20 and 25 degrees of Cel- tree. The forests provide refuge for many sius are highly favored by tourists; since the animals and birds such as leopard, ram, wild average daily temperature in this province goat, hyena, jackal, wolf, fox, sable, weasel, from mid-May to mid-October ranges be- partridge, wild duck, stork, parrot, and eagle. tween 22 to 28 degrees Celsius, this period is Kurdistan Province also has many natural the best time of the year for attracting sum- caves including Karafto Cave, close to Di- mer tourists.

53 Industry Most people in Kurdistan Province are en- gaged in agriculture and modern livestock farming. The natural climatic conditions of the region as well as its fertile lands make the province an ideal place for the aforementioned industry. Wheat, barley, grains and fruits are the major agricultural products. The chemical, metal, textile, leather and food industries are the other main industries in this province.

Handicrafts Handicrafts of Kurdistan Province in western of Bijar and Sanandaj are known for their Iran reflect its people’s culture and were devel- high-quality carpets. A traditional weav- oped as per the needs of the people. The car- ing method known as Julai is used to make pet-weaving and wood works of the Province traditional Kurdish men’s clothing fabric by have attracted world-wide attention and popu- specialist weavers known as Julais. Other larity. Kurdish carpets and rugs are famous due woven products include Mowj (which is used to their unique Kurdish designs, natural dyes for wrapping mattresses, pillows and blan- and textiles used in their weaving. The cities kets) and Ja-Namaz (a type of prayer mat). Another example of handwoven product is Klash which is a type of footwear produced in Kurdish speaking areas and is highly suitable for mountainous regions due to the flexibility of its sole. The Klash’s light weight makes it a popular choice among Kurds even today in the dry seasons . Kurdistan Province is renowned for the intri- cately designed chessboards and backgam- mon boards and has earned a reputation for handcrafting beautiful musical instruments,

54 in large part due to the abundance of high quality wood in the region. The province also boasts a wealth of musical talents which have lent credence to the area’s reputation. Kurd- ish musical instruments include the Qernête (a double reed musical instrument) and the tembûr (a fretted string instrument). Other wooden products produced in Kurdistan include pipes, hubble-bubbles, wooden chests and make-up boxes. Other handicrafts which are produced in this province are stone products, basket weaving, jewelry and ornaments, and leather products. The province boasts various local confectioneries such as Konjed Gazanbin, Bad- am-Sukhteh, Baslogh, and Nan-Berenji. From among these confectioneries Konjed is specifically made in the provincial capital Sanandaj and is highly favored by tourists.

55 Kurdish Culture and Language One of the most important attractions of the province is its cultural features such as language, ethnic music, ethnic costume, ethnic dance, festivals, celebrations, and handicrafts. People in this province speak Kurdish as their first language. The Kurdish language is a west Iranian language related to Farsi and Pashto and like Farsi is a branch of the Indo-European languages. It has its own grammatical and writing regulations as a language. Due to the sporadic dispersion of Kurdish population and the vastness of Kurdistan (“Land of the Kurds”), this language has two main dialects and some sub dialects. The existence of various dialects has made this language very rich in terms of the number of vocabularies; and the melodic tone of its vocabularies has tremendously enriched the literary and musical practices. Kurdish dance or Halparkeh mirrors the past history of Kurdish people and by taking a closer look at Kurdish dance, we would find out that this art is a complete reflection of people’s daily life and work. The roots of this art could be traced back into the people’s religious beliefs, national festivals and celebrations, local games of war and defense, and inner feelings and moods. Kurdish dance has so many varieties throughout Kurdistan, but Sanandaj and Mariwan are two famous and rich cities in this regard and the varieties danced are named as follows: Garyan, Peshtpa, Halgerten, Fatah Pashayee, Chopi, Zangi, Shlan, Sehjar, and Khanameeri. Traditional musical instruments are still used for dancing to but modern electrical musical instruments are in wider use. Kurdistan boasts one of the most beautiful costumes in the world. As it is written by many tourists in their travel books, Kurdish costumes are absolutely unique in terms of beauty, delicacy and color. Due to their positive attributes they have won the first place in several international festivals. Traditional Kurdish clothes are still widely used in everyday life in many parts of the province and gain special significance at weddings and religious ceremonies.

56 Special Feasts and Festivals One of the most popular public celebrations with Kurdish people is Nowrooz ( the beginning of a new year). Kurdish people celebrate Nowrooz by making fires and dancing round it in circles. Eid- e-Fetr and Eid-e-Qorban are two significant religious feasts which are dearly favored by Kurd- ish people as well the celebrations of the Prophet Mohammed’s (peace be upon him) birthday (Mawloodi) in the third month of the Islamic calendar. Another important festival is the Pir-Shaliar Festival (an ancient traditional feast) which is held in the village of Uraman-Takht. Based on archaeological and historical records, settlements have exited in the Uraman region since prehistoric times. This famous festival is celebrated twice a year. It is held both on the 45th day of spring and 45th day of winter in the village of Pir-Shaliar. The ceremony celebrates the wedding anniversary of a legendary Pir (an elderly respectable person), whose name was Shahryar (or Shalyar in Kurdish dialects) with a princess, and it has its roots in the ancient myths of the area. The Pir Shalyar ceremony begins by children distributing the walnuts of Pir Shalyar garden among the people of Uraman Takht and other villages in its vi- cinity. This is seen as an invitation to the villagers of the area to participate. It is usual for animals like cows, sheeps and goats to be sacrificed. Some special foods like a bread called Kolire Majgeh (dough made from flour, walnut, almond, and onion) is also baked and distributed amongst par- ticipants. The Daf musical instrument is played and zikr by dervishes take place while chanting special prayers. The number of attendees reaches thousands and thus can get very crowded. In recent years this festival has attracted national and even international attention.

57 City of Sanandaj The city of Sanandaj is the capital of Kurdistan Province and 512 kilometers west of Tehran. It is geographically located almost in the center of the province so that except for the cities of Saqez and Baneh, it has borders with the other cities in the province. Sanandaj has a population of 419,750 as per the last census taken in 2005 and is thus the province’s most populous city. It is considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in Iran because of its scenic views and topography. The city is surrounded by mountains and hills, and has a mountainous climate where summers are relatively mild and winters cold. Some of these hills, such as Tapeh Tooshnawzar, Tapeh Roosi and Tapeh Sharaf-al-mulk, are of religious and historical importance. Two well-known mountain landmarks in the city are Abidar and Kochek Rash (black stone) which are situated at opposing ends of the city. The name Sanandaj is an Arabicized form of the compound word “Sna dezh” and the native Kurdish people of the city call the city “Sna”. Although many definitions exist for the term “Sna”, in the Avesta (primary collection of religious texts of Zoroastrianism) it is defined as “hawk” or “eagle” and the word “dezh” means fort.

58 Sanandaj: Historical and Cultural It is obvious from historical records that the ruler, Shah Soleiman Khan Ardalan, transferred the centre of government from Hasanabad and Palangan forts in the south to the modern day city of Sanandaj in the year 1046 AH. Prior to that, Sanandaj was a small but ancient small village which was probably destroyed by an earthquake or Mongol invasions. This is evident in the ancient hill of Tooshnawzar running along the river and Hasanabad Fort which are of archaeological significance. Many graves have also been found in Sanandaj dating back to more than a thousand years. Suleiman Khan Ardalan after the transfer of sovereignty to Sanandaj, built a castle on top of a hill establishing a government with full strength. Mansions, baths, mosques and markets were built outside of the castle building in the Safavid and Qajar eras and remains of which are still evident in the present era.

Sanandaj has a special place culturally, artistically and religiously in Kurdish populated regions. It has famous artists in the various cultural and artistic fields such as music, theater, visual / performing arts. The city is also famed for its mystical ceremonies and mysticism held in Takyas and Khanqahs (belonging to Dervish Orders) weekly. Mysticism is a deep-rooted tradition in Kurdistan province and since the third century Kurdish people have been followers of this tradition. Sanandaj boasts 60 Khanghahs which are a resort or refuge for congregation of dervishes or followers.

There are two main branches of mysticism in Kurdistan province: - Ghaderieh Branch: Followers of this branch are the disciples of Sheikh Abdolghadere Gilani. They attempt to find truth through religious ceremonies in which they dance to the sound of the Daf till they are totally rapt in the mystically religious atmosphere of the ceremony. - Naghshbandi Branch: Followers of this branch are the disciples of Molana Bahaeddin Moham- mad-e-Bokharayee. They try to find truth through silence and profound thinking. Sanandaj is a city of mosques as it has over 141 mosques and is therefore has the highest ratio of Mosques to city population in the Islamic world. It is also a city with many higher educational institutes (47 HEIs in Kurdistan Province including University of Kurdistan which not only the main state university but has the responsibility of overseeing all the other HEIs in the city and the province a high student population of 20,000 (total province student population is just under 60,000)

59 Tourist Attractions

Jame Mosque This mosque situated on Imam Khomeini Street dates back to the Qajar dynasty and was built by Amanollah Khan, the then Gover- nor of the province in 1228 A.H. This mosque has two porches with a central courtyard surrounded by 12 chambers built specially for theology students. The main porch has 24 impressive columns with Quranic calligra- phy written at their tops. Quranic verses are also skillfully and beautifully engraved on the porch walls. Colourful tiles (7 coloured tiles) have been used to decorate the walls of the mosque and the plinths are made of marble stone.

Abidar Recreational Center As the name suggests, the recreational centre with panoramic views of the city, restau- rants and coffee shops is located on Mount Abidar’s mountainside. This mountainside recreational area has natural springs and landscape designed gardens and sitting areas especially ideal for families. One of the biggest gardens of this center is called Amirieh Garden which also has the biggest outdoor cinema screen of the country that screens films in the spring and summer months.

60 Sanandaj Museum It is located on Habibi Alley, Imam Khomeini Street. The exterior part of the Mulla Lotfol- lah Sheikhol Eslam Mansion houses the museum is. In this museum, archaeological ob- jects excavated in the province or the other parts of Iran are exhibited. The Oroosie works (glass-stained windows) of this museum is one of the best in Sanandaj and were made by Sanandaji artists. The mansion belongs to the Qajar era.

House of Kurds (Asef Mansion) The House of Kurds is one of the biggest an- thropological and ethnic museums in Iran housed in Asef Mansion which belonged to an aristocratic family. It is located on Imam – Khomeini Street in Sanandaj. This mansion was first built in the Safavid period and then completed in the Qajar and Pahlavi periods. It has great architectural importance because of its brickwork , plasterwork and colourful glass stained windows known as Oroosies. The private bath of this mansion is discerned as the most attractive one among the other old baths in Sanandaj.

Sanandaj Bazaar This bazaar extends over the full length of Enghelab Street on both sides. It was built in 1046 A.H. when the Ardalan dynasty made Sanandaj the centre of government. The bazaar was designed in the form of a large rec- tangle which was divided in two parts during Pahlavi dynasty: the northern and southern parts are called Sanandaji Bazaar and Asef Bazaar, respectively. After nearly four centu- ries, the bazaar is still considered commer- cially valuable center.

61 Khosro–Abad Mansion This mansion is on Khosro – Abad Boule- vard. It is a unique building which was once the center of Ardalani Governors, especially Khosro Khan Ardalan. The mansion with its garden has two main parts: the royal palace to the west of the building with a pillared en- trance and the eastern part with a pillared porch which overlooks the outer area of the mansion. In addition to these two main parts, there are baths and servant quarters. The building has wonderfully designed brickwork, Oroosies and a cross – shaped pond.

Vakil Mansion This mansion is situated on Keshavarz Street. It consists of three courtyards with related buildings, a private bath inside the mansion and a public one outside. The main part of Vakil Mansion was built in the Zandiyeh period and other parts in the Qajar period. This mansion boasts decorations such as brickwork and Oroosies. The central part of the mansion has a pergola shaped gable roof.

Moshir Diwan Mansion This mansion was built by Mirza Yousef Moshir Diwan in Qajar period and is on Shohada Street. It consists of three courtyards with own related buildings and interior private baths. Each courtyard also has a fountain. The most beautiful porch in Sanandaj with an arch-shaped roof belongs to this mansion.

Khan Bath This bath is located to the northern side of Sanandaj’s old bazaar, on Enghelab Street. The interior decorations of this bath and the frescos drawn on the walls are really unique. This bath was built in 1220 A.H. under the order of Amannollah Khan Ardalan. This bath is the biggest old bath in Sanandaj.

62 Hajar-e-Khatoon Shrine According to religious records, this revered offspring of an Imam ( Imam Zadeh) was the sister of Imam Reza, who passed away on her way to Khorasan and was then buried in this area. In proximity to the shrine, a mosques and tombs of great leaders and Sheikhs are present. This shrine is in an old alley which is called Sartapollah on Salahedin Ayoobi Street.

Pir-Omar Shrine This shrine is on the southern side of Imam Khomeini Street. It was built in 1046 A.H. It is believed that Pir Omar was the son of Hazrat-e- Ali. The shrine building has amazing brick decorations, plaster works, and glass stained windows.

Pir-Mohammad Shrine This shrine is near Nabowat Square. It is located above a hill which was an old cemetery of Sanandaj. This shrine is the burial place of Mohammad-ebne- Yahya who was called Pir-Omar.

Gheshlagh Dam Gheshlagh Dam is 20 Kilometers north of Sanandaj on the Sanandaj-Saghez Road. This dam was constructed over Gheshlagh River. It is 11 Kilometers long and covers an area of 934 hectares. This lake is a good resort for water sports and has greatly added to the natural attractions of the region.

Negel Quran This well-known Koran is kept in the village of Negel which is 65 kilometers from the west of Sanandaj on the Sanandaj – Mariwan Road. This holy book is handwritten and is believed to date back to time of the Islamic Third Caliphate and was one of Qurans sent out to different parts of the world to spread the message of Islam. It is a large sized text with leather binding and sheets made of thick parchment. This Quran is written in Kufi style which is punctuated. In some parts of this Quran, the numbers of the verses are gilded and decorated with plant designs.

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