Biography
Assistant. Professor. Dr. Araz Ramazan Ahmad has served as the Director of the International Relations Office at the University of Raparin from 2014 to 2027, and again from 2022 to the present. He holds a PhD in Digital Journalism and Political Knowledge, as well as a Master's degree in International Journalism from Sheffield Hallam University, UK (2012).
He teaches undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Research Methodology, ICT, Academic Debate, and Social Awareness at the College of Basic Education. A founding member and former Director of Media and Publications, Dr. Araz also established and led the Career Development Center from 2015 to 2016.
Dr. Araz has coordinated Erasmus programs and led more than 15 international projects in collaboration with organizations such as Erasmus, DAAD, IREX, Fulbright, UNESCO, and RNCT. Recognized as a leading researcher in Digital Journalism in Iraq, he possesses expertise in grant proposal writing and project management.
Publications:
Books:
1. Local Journalism in Kurdistan, Published, March 2018
2. The E-Journalism and Political Knowledge – Published 2019
3. Media in the time of Crisis. Published 2021
Research papers:
1. Relationships between social media usage, attitudes toward information on social media, and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. Published: June 10, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.glt.2024.05.003
2. Public engagement with pictures and videos about COVID-19 vaccination on social media: A cross-sectional study in a developing country. Published: April 19, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1080/20479700.2024.2331913
3. Examining Violence against Journalists in Conflict Areas: Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan. The Journal of Communication and Media Studies. Published November 8, 2023. https://doi.org/10.18848/2470-9247/CGP/v08i02/49-64
4. The role of investigative media in providing dimensions of public interest journalism in the Kurdistan Region. Zanco Journal of Human Sciences. Published December 15, 2023. https://doi.org/10.21271/zjhs.27.SpB.5
5. Public engagement in government officials’ posts on social media during coronavirus lockdown. Journal Plos one. Published January 23, 2023. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0280889 . [Q1; Clarivate Analytics: SCIE; SCOPUS: IF: 3.752]
6. The Effect of the Social Responsibility Theory in Forming Public Interest Journalism. Journal of University of Raparin. Published March 29, 2023. https://doi.org/10.26750/Vol(10).No(1).Paper21
7. Parity of esteem A global COVID-19 vaccination approach for people with mental illnesses, based on facts from 34 countries; recommendations and solutions. Industrial Psychiatry Journal. Published December 14, 2023. https://journals.lww.com/inpj/abstract/9000/parity_of_esteem__a_global_covid_19_vaccination.99946.aspx
8. THE IMPACT OF ISIS ON IRAQ’S NATIONAL SECURITY: REVIEW OF THE PERIOD FROM 2014 TO 2017. Published December 01, 2022. https://e-jlia.com/index.php/jlia/article/view/753. [SCOPUS]
9. Examining perceptions towards war/peace journalism: A survey of journalists in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan, International Communication Gazette. Sage Publishing, Published 07 June 2021, https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/17480485211015618. [Q1; Clarivate Analytics: SSCI; SCOPUS: IF: 1.863]
10. The Impact of Social Media on Panic During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Iraqi Kurdistan: Online Questionnaire Study. Journal of Medical Internet Research. Published on 19.05.20 in Vol 22, No 5 (2020): May. https://www.jmir.org/2020/5/e19556/. [Q1; Clarivate Analytics: SCIE; SCOPUS: IF: 7.08]
11. Suicidal behavior during COVID-19 pandemic in Iraq: An analysis of newspaper reports. Published January 18, 2021. Aug 22, 2021. Journal of GLOBAL PSYCHIATRY. https://globalpsychiatry.co.uk/article_15359.html.
12. Quality of Online Media Reporting of Suicidal Behavior in Iran during COVID-19 pandemic in Reference to the World Health Organization Guidelines. Published May 28, 2022. Journal of GLOBAL PSYCHIATRY ARCHIVES: https://globalpsychiatry.co.uk/article_18081.html
13. The Impact of the Media on Women's Political Participation in Iraq and the Middle East. Published March 28, 2022. Journal of University of Raparin: http://journal.uor.edu.krd/index.php/JUR/article/view/752
14. Predictors of mental health symptomatology among Kurdish patients who recovered from COVID-19 in Iraq. June 27 2022. Journal of Discover Psychology- Springer: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s44202-022-00043-5
15. Influence of media on the value of life among COVID-19 survivors: A case study of Iraqi Kurdistan Region. Published November 2021. Rawal Medical Journal, 46 (4), 770-775. https://www.rmj.org.pk/?mno=134840 . [Q4; Clarivate Analytics: ESCI; SCOPUS]
16. THE ROLE OF MEDIA IN PEACEBUILDING IN IRAQ AFTER ISIS. Published September 21, 2021. Journal of Liberty and International Affairs, Vol 7, Issue 3. https://www.ceeol.com/search/article-detail?id=984269. [SCOPUS]
17. Psychological violence against Arab women in the context of social media: web-based questionnaire study. Published Aug 19, 2021. Journal of Medical Internet Research. https://www.jmir.org/2021/8/e27944. [Q1; Clarivate Analytics: SCIE; SCOPUS: IF: 7.08]
18. Panic Buying in Bangladesh: An Exploration of Media Reports. Journal of Frontiers in Psychiatry. Published January 18, 2021. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.628393/full. [Q1; Clarivate Analytics: SCIE - SSCI; SCOPUS: IF: 5.435]
19. Effects of the Facebook Boycott Campaign on Turkish Products and its Influence on Demand of Kurdish Consumers 2020. Published June 30, 2021. UKH Journal of Social Sciences, 5(1), 98-106. https://doi.org/10.25079/ukhjss.v5n1y2021.pp98-106. [DOAJ]
20. Comparing COVID-19 Control Model Between Iraq and Iran. Published January 02, 2022: https://journals.ukh.edu.krd/index.php/ukhjss/article/view/421. [DOAJ]
21. Freedom of Expression in the UK and Protection of Privacy in Human Rights: Princess Diana’s Case as an Example. Journal of University of Raparin. Published on December 26, 2020: http://journal.uor.edu.krd/index.php/JUR/article/view/paper%20%2011.
22. Quality of media reporting of suicide in Iraq. International journal of social psychiatry. Published on March 18. 2021. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/00207640211003928. [Q1; Clarivate Analytics: SSCI; SCOPUS: IF: 10.461]
23. Perceived Impact of Social Media on Panic Buying: An Online Cross-Sectional Survey in Iraqi Kurdistan. Frontiers in Public Health. Published 2021, https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2021.668153/abstract. [Q2; Clarivate Analytics: SCIE - SSCI; SCOPUS: IF: 6.461]
24. The Social Media and Digitalization of Political Participation in Youths. Journal of society. 8 (1), 83 – 93, 2020 . http://www.society.fisip.ubb.ac.id/index.php/society/article/view/160
25. The Effect of Media Censorship on Freedom, Tishk International University Journal, icabep, Vol, 1, No,1. Pp. 168: https://www.ishik.edu.iq/business/icabep/selected-papers-2019/
26. The Use of Social Media and its Effect on University Students' Academic Skills in Iraqi Kurdistan Region. Published June 30, 2021. Journal of University of Raparin. http://journal.uor.edu.krd/index.php/JUR/article/view/Paper_7?fbclid=IwAR3kMmRjbPSCdQo-glo606-VOyh66x2EyZJJrJVxcSfaloZ_IDXhxcfAQr8
27. The Role of Media in Crisis Management in the Kurdistan Region (Financial Crisis as a Case Study), Journal of University of Raparin ,Vol, 6, No,1, pp. 451-483: http://journal.uor.edu.krd/index.php/JUR/article/view/24
28. The role of social media in the Arab Spring uprisings, CEE e|Dem and e|Gov Days 2019: Cyber Security and eGovernment. Proceedings of the Central and Eastern European e|Dem and e|Gov Days 2019, May 2-3, 2019, Budapest (OCG Conference Proceedings) (Englisch)Taschenbuch – 13. Mai 2019: https://www.amazon.de/CEE-Dem-Gov-Days-2019/dp/3708918983/ref=olp_product_details?_encoding=UTF8&me=
29. Reporting as a tool of censoring different views about Islam Religion(Facebook Pages and accounts reported as a case), Journal of University of Raparin, Vol, 6, NO, 2, pp 392 – 413, September 30,2019 at: http://journal.uor.edu.krd/index.php/JUR/article/view/75
30. The Impact of Internet on Social Relationships among University Students in the Kurdistan Region. Cihan University-Erbil Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 3(2), 8-19. Published on 2019-12-10. https://doi.org/10.24086/cuejhss.v3n2y2019.pp8-19
31. Which governments may control the mass media Iraqi Kurdistan and Iran as a case? (Journal of Economic Development, Environment and People, Vol 4, No 2 -2015). http://jedep.spiruharet.ro/
32. The use of media in the so-called ‘Arab Spring’ of 2010 and 2011 with that of the uprisings in Eastern Europe during the 1950s and 1960, Journal of Koya University, No 37 -2015), http://jhss.koyauniversity.org/index.php/jhss
33. The role of social media in the recent uprising 2014. Presented in Istanbul at international conference on media, communication, design and technology. (Journal of Economic Development, Environment and People, Vol 4, No 2 -2015). http://jedep.spiruharet.ro/
34. Publishing violence at the Kurdish Media and its Role in strengthening Islamic state of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Kurdish Academics Journal. Third round, part B, No 3, June 2015.
35. Kurdish websites, the level of growth and stages of development (theoretical input) Journal of Arts, Literature, Humanities and Social Sciences JALHSS, Vol 20, No, 2018, pages: 135-150, publisher: Emirates College for Education Sciences, http://www.jalhss.com/Online-First.html
36. The role of Media in creating political Knowledge, Journal of University of Raparin, Vol, 5, No. 14(2018), http://journal.uor.edu.krd/
37. The role of a reporter in news gathering in Iraq, Journal of University of Raparin, Vol, 1, No, 2, http://journal.uor.edu.krd/
38. The Impact of the Media on Women's Political Participation in Iraq and the Middle East. Journal of University of Raparin, Vol, 9, No, 2. http://journal.uor.edu.krd/index.php/JUR/article/view/752
Philosophy of Teaching
As an educator at the College of Basic Education, I teach Research Methodology, ICT, Academic Debate, and Social Awareness with the goal of fostering critical thinking, practical skills, and social responsibility in my students. My teaching philosophy revolves around creating a student-centered, challenging, and supportive environment that encourages intellectual curiosity and prepares students for both academic and personal success.
I believe that education should challenge students and push them beyond their comfort zones. I set clear expectations from the first day, emphasizing the importance of time management, effort, and resilience. My classes are designed to be intellectually stimulating yet fair, rewarding students for their effort and growth. In Academic Debate, students learn persuasive communication, critical analysis, and logical reasoning through group debates, seminars, and writing exercises. I also focus on developing their skills in academic writing, including proper citation and referencing in Harvard style.
In Research Methodology, I guide students through the research process, teaching them to design ethical studies, analyze data, and present findings clearly. In ICT, students gain hands-on experience with digital tools for research and communication, preparing them for the demands of the digital age. In Social Awareness, I encourage students to engage critically with social issues, helping them become responsible global citizens and advocates for positive change.
Across all courses, I emphasize the importance of critical thinking and reflection. I challenge students to question assumptions, evaluate evidence, and form reasoned perspectives. Each class ends with a review of upcoming material to help students see how everything connects and prepare them for future topics.
At the heart of my philosophy is the belief that we learn not for school, but for life. My goal is to equip students with the skills and knowledge they need not just for exams, but for becoming informed, responsible citizens who contribute meaningfully to society.
