(Fellowship Description:

The College of City and Regional Planning at the University of Duhok is set to host the third fellowship of the Ta’ziz Partnership for Scientific Cooperation, titled “Healing the River Corridor: Urban Acupuncture as a Catalyst for Green Connectivity and Public Life in Duhok.” This program seeks to attract six researchers — doctoral candidates and master’s students — from partner universities to participate in an immersive, fully-funded fellowship spanning two months, commencing on September 15th, 2025, in Duhok City, Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

Urban acupuncture, a strategic approach that leverages small-scale, targeted interventions to catalyze broader urban transformations, serves as the central framework for this fellowship. Participants will investigate how targeted interventions along the river corridor can stimulate environmental restoration, enhance public use, and encourage community engagement, creating rippling effects that reconnect urban residents with their natural landscapes.

The primary objective of the fellowship is to provide a platform for fellows to engage in interdisciplinary research focused on reactivating the neglected river corridor of Duhok City through urban acupuncture, ultimately contributing to sustainable urban development and community well-being. Fellows will engage in critical site analysis, collaborative design sessions, and community engagement strategies in order to propose targeted interventions that mitigate environmental degradation, enhance public accessibility, and reintroduce underutilized urban spaces into the public realm. Active engagement with the local community and stakeholders is a fundamental aspect of the fellowship, ensuring that their perspectives and aspirations are meaningfully integrated into the project.

This fellowship provides an invaluable opportunity to contribute to the reimagining of Duhok’s riverbanks as vibrant public spaces while advancing sustainable urbanism in a rapidly evolving city.

Requirements:

All the following documents should be combined in one PDF-document titled (Fellowship in Duhok_Last and First Names) and submitted via the online portal in the same order below*:

• 1. Motivation letter 300 words
  2. Short Curriculum vitae (CV) - Maximum 3 Pages
  3. Portfolio - Maximum 8 Pages
  4. Certificates: (Bachelor and Master certificates if applicable)
  5. Copy of first page of valid passport for international participants. For Iraqi participants copy of the ID would be sufficient (front and back of the ID)

* Applications missing any required documents will not be considered by the selection committee.

Eligibility:

• Applicants must have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in one or more of the following fields: urban planning, urban design, landscape planning, and architecture.
• Applicants must be able to communicate in written and spoken English at an advanced/professional level.

Why Apply?

The fellowship is designed to advance academic collaboration, expand research networks, and enhance expertise in urban acupuncture as a strategy for sustainable urban development. The University of Duhok is committed to cultivating a dynamic academic atmosphere that sparks innovative thinking, promotes interdisciplinary collaboration, and amplifies the value of diverse cultural perspectives.

Financial Support:

The fellowship is funded. The fund includes travel allowance according to DAAD guidelines (for a round trip) and flat rate monthly allowance (for two months).

Accommodation:

Fellows will have the flexibility to organize their stay in Duhok City according to their individual needs and preferences throughout the fellowship program. While the College of City and Regional Planning will offer guidance and recommendations to outline available resources and opportunities, fellows are expected to manage their accommodation, transportation, and personal arrangements independently.

Fellowship Host Institute:

The fellowship will be hosted by the College of City and Regional Planning at the University of Duhok, situated in the city of Duhok within the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

Application Timeline:

• Call for Applications: Thursday, 22nd May 2025
• Application Deadline: Sunday, 8th June 2025 - Deadline Extended - Monday, 16th June 2025 (22:00 CET)
• Short listing and invitation for Interviews: Monday, 23rd of June 2025 (TBC)
• Interview: Tuesday, 1st of July 2025 (TBC)

For further questions and inquiries, please feel free to contact us: fellowship@urbanacupuncture.de