| The Department of Animal Sciences at University of Kurdistan is one of the oldest and most influential academic groups in the field of animal sciences in Kurdistan Province. It was established in 1992 (1371 in the Iranian calendar) and was the first academic department within the College of Agriculture to offer students admission in the associate degree program in Animal Production Technology. Currently, this department boasts 11 faculty members across undergraduate, master's, and Ph.D. levels, specializing in diverse fields such as Genetics and Breeding of Livestock and Poultry, Poultry Nutrition, Animal Nutrition, and Physiology of Livestock and Poultry. This extensive expertise underscores the department’s commitment to advancing scientific research and education in the field. The department benefits from state-of-the-art laboratories and research facilities, including Animal and Poultry Nutrition Labs, Microbiology Labs, Genetics and Biotechnology Labs, and Physiology Labs. In addition, it has access to various research farms, such as a dairy cattle farm, a Mahabadi goat breeding farm, Broiler and Layer poultry houses, a Quail Breeding Center, an Incubation Hall, and a Beekeeping Educational and Research Farm. These resources provide a strong foundation for hands-on training and innovative research in multiple areas of animal sciences. Furthermore, the Department of Animal Sciences has taken significant steps toward internationalization. It offers admission to international students across all specializations, strengthening academic and cultural exchanges. In 2018 (1397 in the Iranian calendar), the department made a pioneering move by signing a partnership with Raperin University in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, admitting 14 international undergraduate students for the first time. This move reflects the department’s expanding global presence. Additionally, the introduction of the Bachelor’s degree in Laboratory Animal Science in 2018 marked another milestone, with plans to develop a Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine in the future. The department is also committed to advancing scientific knowledge through faculty and student exchange programs; in recent years, faculty members and students have participated in research and training opportunities in countries such as Denmark, Canada, Australia, Belgium, Austria, and Spain. These initiatives significantly contribute to the department’s academic excellence and future growth, promising a bright and impactful future for animal sciences at the University of Kurdistan. |
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