College of Arts

Unit for Orientalist Studies (Istishraq): Fourteen-Year Overview

The interest in western publication related with the orient which is roughly called Orientalism was a long tradition in the academic life of college of  Arts university of Mosul. This interest culminated by choosing in2009 the topic as theme for the   annual conference of the college. The conference recommended the need to establish a specialized center  for the study f Orientalism   affiliated with the college..

As a result, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research approved the conference’s recommendations, and a letter was sent to the University of Mosul in 2011 requesting a statement of the requirements for establishing a center or specialized research Unit. After a number of meetings with senior specialized professors and

researchers in Orientalism, such as Professor Dr. Imad al-Din Khalil, Professor Dr. Hashim al-Mallah, Professor Dr. Jazil Abd al-Jabbar al-Jumard, Assistant Professor Dr. Hussein Youssef, Assistant Professor Dr. Hasib Hadid, and Assistant Professor Dr. Nasser Abd al-Razzaq, Assistant Professor Faris Aziz  the internal system for the Orientalist Studies Unit was completed and submitted to the university presidency and from there to the Ministry of Education for approval.

On 7/7/2011, Ministerial Order No. 3/5996 was issued to establish the  Unit for the Study of Istishraqin the Faculty of Arts – University of Mosul. It was the first research Unit of its kind in Iraq and maybe in the Arab world also.

Professor Dr. Nasser Abd al-Razzaq was chosen to be he first director of the Unit, and Assistant Professor Dr. Faris Aziz al-Mudarris assumed the position of assistant director. An administrative body was formed from the scholars and professors mentioned above.

Since then, the Unit has begun its activities as a research Unit within the Faculty of Arts, University of Mosul.

Over 14 years, the Unit has offered many specialized lectures and seminars and hosted a number of Arab, Iraqi, and Western researchers to talk about the topic of Istishraq, which is a very important topic that falls within the core of our relationship with the West.

The Unit ceased its activities with the occupation of the city by terrorist groups in 2014,then Its activity resumed after liberation, with Assistant Professor Dr. Faris Aziz al-Mudarris taking over its administration from 2018 to 2023, and then Professor Dr. Nasser Abd al-Razzaq taking over its administration until now.

Since 2018 , the Unit held seminars, lectures, and scientific workshops, publishing books and research in the field of Orientalism. It has also accommodated new specialists in this field.

This year, the Unit has issued its journal and planning to issue its first annual book. It is now launching its strategic project to A comprehensive Encyclopedia for Orientalists, which will be the first work of its kind in terms of comprehensiveness and breadth.

The Unit bears a great responsibility in undertaking the task of developing research in the field of Orientalism. It derives its strength from the support of the Deanship of the Faculty of Arts and the support of the esteemed University President.