History of the Department:
The Mechanical Engineering Department at the University of Kurdistan began its work in 2009 with the admission of undergraduate students in the field of Thermofluids, utilizing 3 faculty members. In 2011, the first graduate students were admitted in the Solid Mechanics and Design specialization, followed by the establishment of the Thermofluids specialization in 2013. With the further expansion of the department, a Ph.D. program in Energy Conversion was launched in 2022. Currently, more than 200 undergraduate students and 40 graduate students are studying in the Mechanical Engineering Department. Their education and supervision are handled by 9 faculty members, including 4 associate professors and 5 assistant professors. Over the 16 years since the department's establishment, its students and faculty have achieved many honors, including twice receiving the national award for the best Master’s thesis and once the national award for the best undergraduate student.

Message from the Head of Department:
Mechanical Engineering is a combination of creativity, science, analytical tools, and design to solve a problem or turn an idea into reality. It is a branch of engineering that deals with the design, construction, and manufacturing of various structures, and the utilization of different forms of energy also falls within the scope of this field. In terms of the diversity of topics covered, Mechanical Engineering can be considered the most comprehensive engineering discipline, as it encompasses all sciences and technologies directly or indirectly related to motion creation and transformation, work performance, conversion and use of various forms of energy, production and manufacturing of raw components and machinery, the application of different materials in their construction, and the design and control of mechanical, thermal, and fluid systems.

The Mechanical Engineering Department at the University of Kurdistan, relying on an interdisciplinary and innovative approach, strives to play an active role at the frontiers of knowledge and technology by developing educational and research activities in areas such as renewable energy, micro- and nano-systems, computational mechanics, advanced materials, and manufacturing engineering. The faculty members believe that synergy between theoretical education, practical work in laboratories, and interaction with industry will foster the training of capable, research-oriented graduates familiar with the contemporary needs of society.

The development of national and international scientific collaborations, support for applied research, and expanding industry engagement capacities are among the core objectives of the department in its future vision. We hope that by leveraging the academic expertise of the faculty and the high motivation of the students, we can make a meaningful contribution to the scientific and industrial advancement of the country.

Specializations and Job Market:
Since mechanical engineers can work in various fields, including the design and manufacturing of machinery and components, design and construction of mechanical equipment for power plants, design and construction of water transmission and treatment systems, mechanical and control systems in refineries and chemical plants, design and construction of heating and cooling systems for buildings, manufacturing of material processing and recycling machinery (e.g., sugar, paper, cement, textile, salt, and concentrate plants), design and construction of land, sea, and air transportation equipment, manufacturing of defense equipment, and the production of robots, mechanical arms, and manufacturing systems, numerous job opportunities are available. Other potential employment sectors include military, aerospace, medical and pharmaceutical industries, consulting and contracting companies, and oil and mining companies. The job domains can be categorized based on the specializations of this field as follows:

• Mechanical Engineering – Solid Mechanics and Design: Working in the design of industrial machinery, factory production lines, power transmission systems, etc.

• Mechanical Engineering – Thermofluids: Working in the design of internal combustion engines, jet engines, aerodynamic analysis, aerospace, design of hydraulic and pneumatic systems, thermal, gas, and hydroelectric power plants, oil and gas refineries, petrochemical plants, and building mechanical installations, etc.

• Mechanical Engineering – Manufacturing and Production: Working in mold-making workshops, tool manufacturing, machine tools, and the production of industrial machinery, etc.

• Mechanical Engineering – Automotive Engineering: Working in automobile manufacturing and assembly plants, specialized automotive centers and repair shops, vehicle inspection centers, etc.

• Biomechanics: Biomechanics is an emerging field whose scope of expertise is continually expanding. It is one of the newest disciplines to enter the global technology arena, established to assist physicians in diagnosis and treatment. The goal of this field is to train specialists who can utilize engineering skills and analyze biological and medical problems to design devices that help physicians achieve more accurate diagnoses and better treatments.