Student Activity: Toward a More Sustainable Campus through Innovative Design and Practical Application
Roza Rebwar, a fourth-year student from the Department of Architecture at Cihan University Sulaymaniyah, along with her collaborators Hawzhin, Karo, and Ahmad, has successfully co-developed an innovative mobile Augmented Reality (AR) project as part of the 2023-2024 Digital Heritage Internship Program (DHIP). This internationally supported program was designed to equip young professionals in the Kurdistan Region with cutting-edge skills in digital heritage conservation, fostering the creative industry both locally and beyond.
The DHIP, which took place from June 9, 2023, to June 7, 2024, was implemented in collaboration with renowned institutions such as the Cultural Heritage Organization (CHO), the Kurdistan Institution for Strategic Studies & Scientific Research (KISSR), the University College London (UCL), and the British Museum. It also partnered with local entities like the Suli Innovation House (SIH) and the Culture Factory. Under the guidance of Prof. Asst. Dr. Rozhin Kamal Mohammed-Amin, the interns were exposed to extensive training in conceptualizing, designing, and promoting digital heritage projects. The program featured a diverse team of trainers from the Kurdistan Region, the UK, the USA, Europe, and Iran, bringing a truly international perspective.
The focal point of the team’s project was the former Cigarette Factory, now repurposed as the Culture Factory in Sulaymaniyah. Their mobile AR tour, titled “Historical Evolution of Cities: How Industrial Change is Changing Our Life,” examines the socio-economic and cultural transformations the city experienced due to the factory’s evolution. The project blends location-based storytelling with personal testimonies, allowing users to reflect on the industrial shifts within the city and their broader implications for urban spaces.
This innovative use of AR technology highlights the transformative potential of digital tools in public heritage education, while also emphasizing the crucial role of youth like Roza and her teammates in merging heritage conservation with modern advancements. Professors such as Eleanor Robson of UCL and Mary Matheson from Arizona State University praised the project for its high quality, comparing it to the work produced by students from prestigious international institutions.
The DHIP’s broader objective of fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, while promoting local cultural heritage, was fully realized through this project. This achievement underscores the role of Cihan University Sulaymaniyah’s students in contributing to international initiatives aimed at preserving and reimagining local history through innovative digital platforms.
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