Successful Conclusion of the 'Two Cities, One River' International Program in Diyarbakir

The international program known as 'Two Cities, One River' (İki Şehir, Bir Nehir), designed to strengthen academic and cultural interactions between Turkey and Iraq, concluded on July 13, 2026, in the city of Diyarbakir. The event, held under the supervision of Dicle University (Dicle Üniversitesi) and with the participation of Baghdad University, hosted a delegation consisting of 12 students and 3 prominent professors from Iraq [1][2].

Details of the Educational Workshop and Cultural Exchange This program, which lasted from July 3 to 13, 2026, included the 'Turkish Language Teaching and Turkish-Iraqi Linguistic Studies Workshop.' The project was managed by the Dicle University Foreign Relations Office and the Language Teaching Center (TÖMER). The main goal of this workshop was to create a platform for exchanging knowledge in the field of teaching Turkish as a foreign language and examining the literary links between the two countries [2][3]. During these 10 days, in addition to theoretical sessions, participants took part in practical activities and field visits to become closely acquainted with the social and historical structure of Diyarbakir.

Educational and Artistic Programs: From Poetry to Calligraphy The educational content of this course was highly diverse, covering topics such as classical and modern Turkish poetry, language teaching with the help of multimedia, and the relationship between humor and culture [1]. One of the attractive parts of this program was the practical workshop on Ottoman Calligraphy (Hat Sanatı), which was met with great interest by the Iraqi students. Additionally, analysis sessions of works by famous Diyarbakir poets were held, significantly contributing to the guests' deeper understanding of the region's literary heritage [3].

Meeting with Officials and Closing Ceremony During the program, the delegation from Baghdad University met and spoke with Professor Dr. Kamuran Eronat, the Rector of Dicle University. At the closing ceremony, held in the presence of university officials, the Iraqi students shared their experiences and perspectives regarding the city of Diyarbakir and the educational quality of Dicle University. At the end, international certificates of completion were awarded to all participants [1][2].

Future Cooperation Outlook Professor Dr. Mustafa Uğurlu Arslan, Secretary General of Dicle University, emphasized in his speech that the title 'Two Cities, One River' is no longer just a symbolic slogan but has become a sustainable cooperation model. He noted that this program has paved the way for student and faculty exchanges, joint research projects, and academic exchange programs between the two universities [2]. Associate Professor Dr. Osman Solmaz, Director of the Foreign Relations Office, also mentioned that this event has strengthened the long-standing historical and cultural ties between Turkey and Iraq at the university level [1].