Introduction:
In alignment with the University of Kurdistan’s strategic objectives to elevate the digital ecosystem and ensure the sustainability of critical services, the Directorate of Technology Affairs has recently executed a series of fundamental and developmental initiatives. This report is presented to elucidate the directorate’s performance and detail the strides taken toward modernizing hardware infrastructure, fortifying cybersecurity, leveraging emerging Artificial Intelligence technologies, and empowering human capital. The key measures implemented are as follows:

1. Development and Optimization of the Web Portal and Services
To enhance user experience (UX) and facilitate access to information, the following actions were undertaken regarding the university’s website and portal:

• Architecture Enhancement and Technical Resolution: Identification and mitigation of technical bottlenecks within the portal system to resolve page-loading latency and facilitate the content population process for relevant experts.
• Content Standardization: Formulation of comprehensive standard checklists for the webpages of vice-presidencies, faculties, research institutes, and educational departments. These standards have been communicated to unit heads to ensure the integration and enrichment of the university's digital content.
• Human Capital Empowerment: Organizing specialized workshops focused on principles of content entry and the utilization of Generative AI tools for editing and translating content into three foreign languages, aiming to boost the quality and global visibility of the university’s website in international academic circles.
• Resolution of Faculty Course Display Issues and Profile Update Features: The technical issue regarding the display of current semester courses on faculty members' personal pages has been resolved. Course listings are now accurately synchronized with the University's Education System. Additionally, the feature allowing faculty members to edit and update their personal profile information is now enabled.

2. Modernization and Reinforcement of Processing and Storage Infrastructure (Data Center)
To augment computational power and service stability, significant infrastructural upgrades were conducted at the University Data Center:

• Deployment of High-Performance Computing (HPC) Servers: Installation of an advanced server equipped with 5th Generation Xeon processors (totaling over 260 GHz processing power), 2 TB of RAM, and over 60 TB of high-speed Enterprise SSD storage to meet heavy processing demands.
• Email Server Optimization: Principled partitioning and resolution of technical issues within the university’s email server to enhance the speed and reliability of organizational correspondence.
• Backup System Upgrade: Doubling the backup storage capacity and establishing a distributed, periodic backup process for all critical systems.
• Implementation of Fault Tolerance Mechanisms: Deployment and operationalization of replication processes for essential university systems. This strategic measure ensures uninterrupted service continuity in the event of primary server disruptions, with the requisite technical knowledge institutionalized among the expert staff.

3. Enhancement of Cybersecurity and Passive Defense

Given the paramount importance of safeguarding data and infrastructure, multiple security layers have been implemented:

• Content Delivery Network (CDN) Integration: Migration of all university systems (excluding specific technical exceptions) behind a CDN to enhance security and maximize resilience against various cyberattacks.
• Unified Threat Management (UTM): Sequential firmware updates (over 10 stages) of the server room’s UTM device to the latest stable version and the deployment of an offline license to guarantee firewall performance.
• Endpoint Security Fortification: Installation and configuration of server-side antivirus software on critical systems, such as the email server, for malware detection and mitigation.

4. Network Expansion and Monitoring Systems

To guarantee communication quality and real-time equipment monitoring:

• Network Equipment Modernization: Replacement and upgrade of core network equipment, as well as the modernization of network hardware within faculties and student dormitories.
• Deployment of Comprehensive Monitoring Systems: Upgrading the monitoring system for software and hardware infrastructure, including oversight of component temperatures, computational resource usage, and service health status.

5. Pioneering Emerging Technologies and Artificial Intelligence

Adopting a futuristic approach, the Directorate of Technology Affairs has operationally entered the field of AI:

• Launch of Dedicated Artificial Intelligence System: Deployment of an initial beta version of a Generative AI system on internal university servers, capable of utilizing five Large Language Models (LLMs) for academic users.
• Formulation of Strategic Documents: Drafting short-term and long-term strategic plans for the Directorate of Technology Affairs, and preparing comprehensive proposals for establishing the "West Country Big Data Center" and deploying a public version of the AI system.

6. Funding Allocation and Physical Infrastructure Development
Through continuous follow-up and technical justification, necessary funding was secured for:

• Power Stability: Renewal of Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) batteries and the acquisition of a dedicated generator to ensure stable power for the server room.
• Environmental Control: Procurement of standard cooling equipment and network maintenance tools to prevent depreciation and maintain hardware efficiency.

Concluding Remarks:

The aforementioned initiatives represent a significant stride toward the modernization of the University of Kurdistan’s Information Technology infrastructure, providing a secure, stable, and cutting-edge platform for academic and research endeavors. Dr. Amanj Khorramian, Director of Technology Affairs, while expressing gratitude for the unwavering support of the University Presidency and Vice-Presidencies, emphasizes the commitment to sustaining this development-oriented trajectory.

Directorate of Technology Affairs of The University of Kurdistan

Saturday, February 14, 2026