Investigating Enrollment Decline in Political Science and International Relations Programmes in the Kurdistan Region

Authors

  • Dr. Mohammad Salih Mustafa HoD of International Relations and Diplomacy Department,Tishk International University
  • Dana Mohammed Danish Aladdin Sajadi nternational Relations and Diplomacy Department, Tishk International University.
  • Bayad Sarwar Abdullah AsInternational Relations and Diplomacy Department, Tishk International University.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.23918/ejmss.V5i2p20

Keywords:

SDGs, Kurdistan Universities, Political Science, International Relations, Diplomacy

Abstract

Student enrolment in Political Science, International Relations and Diplomacy (IRD) is alarmingly low. In order to tackle this problem, this research aims to first determine the causes behind the decline in student enrollment in Political Science, International Relations, and Diplomacy programmes. Secondly, to explore the cultural, economic, and educational factors contributing to this downturn. Thirdly, examine the impact on academia, policymaking, and society at large. Finally, to develop workable plans and strategies to reverse this trend and highlight the value of studying Political Science, International Relations, and Diplomacy. The methodology that is employed to undertake this study is Focus Group Discussion (FGD), where educators, researchers, legislators, and other stakeholders interested in these fields across many universities in the Kurdistan Region collaborate to discuss the issue and come out with realistic conclusionsand recommendations. In addition,we gathered statistics about the number ofstudents enrolled in such departments from the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. The data will be analysed descriptively and thematically. The significance of this project lies in addressing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) number 4: Quality Education and number 16: Peace, Justice,and Strong Institutions of the United Nations. The results showed the students'interest has changed in considering such courses to be studied by many of them.

Author Biographies

  • Dr. Mohammad Salih Mustafa, HoD of International Relations and Diplomacy Department,Tishk International University

    Dr. Mohammad Salih Mustafa is the Head of the International Relations and Diplomacy Department at Tishk International University in Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq, and an Associate Fellow of the British Academy. He holds a PhD in Ethno-Political Studies from the University of Exeter and an MA in Near and Middle Eastern Studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London. His research interests include Middle Eastern Politics, Religious Nationalism, Islamism, Kurdish Studies, Kurdish Diaspora, Kurdistan Region, Muslim Brotherhood, Counter Terrorism, and Security.

    Dr. Mustafa has several publications to his credit, including 'Nationalism and Islamism in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq: the Emergence of the Kurdistan Islamic Union,' published by Routledge (2020); 'The Anti-Kurdish Thoughts of ISIS,' published in the Review of Middle East Studies, Cambridge University Press (2023); 'The Trajectory and Current State of Intra- Kurdish Politics in the Kurdistan Region, the Role and Influence of Iran and Turkey,' published in the Turkish Journal of Security Studies (2016); and 'Iran's Role in the Kurdistan Region’, published in Aljazeera Centre for Studies (2016).

  • Dana Mohammed Danish Aladdin Sajadi , nternational Relations and Diplomacy Department, Tishk International University.

    Assistant lecturer at International Relations and Diplomacy Department, Tishk International University.

  • Bayad Sarwar Abdullah, AsInternational Relations and Diplomacy Department, Tishk International University.

    Assistant Lecturer at International Relations and Diplomacy Department, Tishk International University.

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Published

2024-12-24

Issue

Vol. 5 No. 2 (2024)

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Articles

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Copyright (c) 2024 Dr. Mohammad Salih Mustafa, Dana Mohammed Danish Aladdin Sajadi , Bayad Sarwar Abdullah

Eurasian Journal of Management & Social Sciences (EJMSS)
Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial 2.0 Generic Licence (CC BY-NC 2.0)

How to Cite

Mustafa, M. S., Aladdin Sajadi , D. M. D. ., & Abdullah, B. S. (2024). Investigating Enrollment Decline in Political Science and International Relations Programmes in the Kurdistan Region. Eurasian Journal of Management & Social Sciences, 5(2), 20-40. https://doi.org/10.23918/ejmss.V5i2p20

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