For generations, the development of the Kurdistan region of Iraq was largely ignored by the central authorities in Baghdad. After the uprising of 1991 and the liberation of most of the Kurdish areas from the control of the authoritarian centrist regimes the Kurdish people hoped to have a domestic authority--their own government and parliament—that would promote the development of the region autonomously.

Despite fiscal and political problems, the Kurdish government put a primary emphasis on developing the educational resources of the region. Besides investing in the old universities of Salahadin (in Erbil) and Sulaimany, new universities were built in major cities such as Duhok, Koya and Soran.

After the establishment of Koya University in 2004, several branch colleges and schools were built inRaparin. A College of Humanities was opened in the city of Rania which included departments of History, Geography and Arabic Language. A College of Language was then opened in Qaladize, which absorbed the Arabic department. In 2005 the Philosophy department was opened in the College of Humanities and in 2008 a School of Nursing opened. In 2009 the Department of English was added to the College of Language in Qaladize, and the College of Basic Education was opened in Rania which includes Kurdish, Arabic, Computers and Mathematics.

As a result of these developments it was decided to found a new university in the Raparin Administrative District which includes Ranya, Bitwen and Pishder. This was accomplished by breaking off the colleges in this area from Koya University and giving them their own local autonomous authority.With the support of many loyal and academic people in the Council of Ministers and Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in the Sixth Cabinet of the Kurdistan Region Government four new universities (Raparin, Zakho, Germian and Helabje) were declared open on July 8, 2010.

In 2013, the University of Raparin was formally accredited by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of Iraq.

April 4 has been designated “University of Raparin” day by the University.

The University of Raparin has made a long term plan to develop the university and its scientific level, including opening the College of Science in 2015, and opening new departments. Many students and faculty mambers participated in the Human Capacity Development Program (HCDP) which sent MA and PhD students to the UK and other countries to study at high-ranked universities. Today the university personnel includes 26 staff with Master degrees and 40 with PhD degrees, and Master programs are available for some disciplines such as Nursing, Kurdish Language and Literature, History and Geography, there is a Ph.D. program in Nursing and new Ph.D. programs are planned for the near future.

A conference was held on April 14-15, 2014 to develop a strategic development plan through 2020.

The University participates in or hosts many activities, seminars and symposiums, such as:
• March 5 (annually): Uprising Day activities
• April 4 (annually): Student activities and presentations.
• April 24 (annually): Martyr and Revolution Day (Qaladize)
• 25-26 June 2013: Conference on International Rules for Advertising. .
• Competitive sports
• Cultural activities
• 25-26 September, 2013: Conference on Kurdish Language
• 23 April, 2015: Conference on Media and Terrorism
• 27 April, 2015: Scientific Conference & Exhibition: “Protecting the Environment is Protecting the Country.”
• 16 May, 2015: First Annual Festival of Kindergarten Department
• 19-20 May, 2015: Conference “Philosophy, Religion & Secularism.”
• 10 November, 2015: Exhibition for Traffic Police (With Directorate of Traffic Police of Raparin).
• 6-7 March, 2016: Conference “Developing the Revolution and a New Reading of its Effects.”
• 8-9 March, 2016: Job Fair for 150 students (with participation of ALATIC organization).
• May 7, 2016: Second Annual Festival of Kindergarten Department.
• April 5, 2016: “Studying in America” presented by US Consulate
• May 4, 2016: “Scientific Festival” for Nursing Students to celebrate International Nursing Week.
• Scientific Festival of Chemistry Department.
• 2016: University if Raparin included in UNESCO list of Accredited Universities.
• May 8, 2016: Seminar to improve personal abilities of graduate students.
• 2016: Seminar for politicians and journalists about Kurdistan Region events with Mala Baxtiar, Dr. Mariwan Qaneh, Aras Fattah, Jamal Hosein, Dr. Aram Rafaat, Dr. Yousuf Mohammad and others.
• 2016: Participation in “International Association of Universities” in Italy.

Academic Agreements have been signed with:
• University of Silesia, Poland.
• World University of Bangladesh.
• University of Kurdistan, Iran

University of Raparin has the following centers at the moment:
• English Language and Development Center
• Research center
• Job Development Center

University of Raparin is now a permanent member of the following organizations:
• International Association of Universities (IAU)
• Eurasian United Universities (EURAS)
• University of Raparin also has scientific relations with local and foreign universities.
• University of Raparin is applying to be UNESCO member.

To date the University has signed Academic Agreements with 31 international universities, including staff exchanges and joint projects. This includes three American Universities, two British, four Turkish, and others from Sweden, Spain, Russia, Armenia, Egypt, Lebanon, Azerbaijan, Jordan, Iran, Bangladesh, Poland, Romania, France, Portugal, Bulgaria, Italy, and Germany.

The University of Raparin has collaborated in many international projects, such as Dialogue and Innovative Higher Education Strategies (DIES) training project supported by DAAD, Erasmus Mandus Marhaba supported by the EU, and “Making Relations with New Universities”, “Internationalize Kurdish Universities”, and “Organizing and Developing Job Centers,” supported by IREX, an American NGO.