Two students from the University of Zakho have arrived in Minnesota to begin studies at Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM), marking the first academic exchange under a municipal agreement between the two cities.

Ibrahim Lazgeen and Sindi Sherzad arrived on August 14 following a Memorandum of Understanding signed by Minnesota State University and the University of Zakho.

The initiative builds upon a formal friendship proclamation established between Zakho, a city in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, and Moorhead, Minnesota.

During their first week, the students participated in local civic events and met with public officials, including U.S. Representative Michelle Fischbach, Minnesota State Senator Mark Johnson, and State Representative Jim Joy.

Jihan Brifki, a representative from the Zakho Independent Administration in the United States who helped coordinate the exchange, explained that the program aims to provide broader civic and cultural exposure alongside academic coursework.

“This opportunity goes beyond academics,” Brifki said. “It’s about understanding the American system, immersing in the local way of life, and learning about government and municipal dynamics.”

The exchange received support from the U.S. Consulate General in Erbil, alongside logistical coordination from MSUM, which assisted with student arrival and campus integration.

“MSUM has been phenomenal in helping us get situated,” Sherzad said, noting the administrative support provided upon their arrival.

Lazgeen also cited the positive reception from the local community, expressing gratitude to both MSUM and the Zakho Independent Administration for facilitating the program.

Officials involved in the program noted that both Zakho and Moorhead share commonalities in their agricultural economies and emphasis on higher education. Program organizers view this year’s exchange as a baseline for potential future educational and municipal cooperation between the two communities.