US ambassador congratulates 2021 graduates of AUK

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The United States Ambassador to Iraq commended students for achieving their education goals during a time of war and a global pandemic in a congratulatory speech during a graduation ceremony for the students of American University of Kurdistan (AUK) in Duhok.

“I see a group of students that has overcome quite a bit of adversity. We’ve all had to make dramatic changes in our lives and many things haven’t turned out quite the way we planned,” Ambassador Mathew Tueller said on Sunday evening during the student commencement of 2021 graduates.

Tueller added that there was a lot to overcome this year, “some of you represent communities that have overcome discrimination and oppression, some of you are the first in your families to attend college, there are others here who have had to flee their homeland as refugees and of course many of you have experienced firsthand the tragic effects of this terrible pandemic.”

“But you carried on, you persevered and accomplished your goals, you graduated, and you probably got to take some of your classes in pajamas too, which goes to show that even a global pandemic has a silver lining,” said Tueller.

“You who are graduating here tonight, to ensure that we learn from this common struggle and that we emerge stronger, more resilient and more committed to a future that recognizes our common humanity.”

Tueller also noted that the US government is a firm supporter of the university, and has recently assisted with their “accreditation process and enhance student diversity.”

President of the Kurdistan Region Nechirvan Barzani was also present at the ceremony, and affirmed he will continue to back the development of the Region's education sector in his congratulatory speech. 

The ceremony was also attended by the Kurdistan Region’s Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani.

There are two American universities in the Kurdistan Region: the American University of Iraq - Sulaimani (AUIS) and AUK. They were established in 2007 and 2014, respectively.

Baghdad also launched its American University of Iraq - Baghdad (AUIB) in January 2021.