The Kurdish Studies Initiative (KSI) at the University of Toronto is an interdisciplinary academic and community platform dedicated to deepening research, teaching, and public engagement on Kurdish history, language, culture, and politics. Emerging from the pioneering work of Professor Amir Hassanpour, one of the foremost scholars of Kurdish linguistics and social thought, KSI continues a legacy of critical inquiry, multilingualism, and cultural preservation that has shaped the study of Kurdistan and its diasporas at the University.
Based in the Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations (NMC), the Initiative brings together faculty, students, artists, and community members to explore the diversity and creativity of Kurdish life across regions and generations. It builds on the University’s rich foundation in Kurdish Studies through the undergraduate course Kurdish Studies: A Critical Introduction and the university’s unparalleled archival holdings—the Amir Hassanpour Fonds and the Setar Faithi Fonds—preserved at the University of Toronto Libraries.
KSI also looks toward the future. Plans are underway to establish Kurdish language instruction in both Kurmanji and Sorani dialects, expanding opportunities for students and researchers to engage directly with Kurdish linguistic and literary traditions. The Initiative will continue to develop new courses, workshops, and collaborative programs that link the university’s resources with the needs and aspirations of the Kurdish community in Canada and internationally.
Through its public events, annual Kurdish Culture and Scholarship Week, and ongoing partnerships, KSI aims to create a lasting home for Kurdish Studies at the University of Toronto—one that connects scholarship with cultural expression, and academic work with community life. This initiative is made possible through the support of individuals and organizations who share a commitment to preserving and advancing Kurdish knowledge and creativity.
Your contribution can help strengthen the future of Kurdish Studies at the University of Toronto. To support the Kurdish Studies Initiative, please visit the donation page.
NMC Kurdish Studies Initiative 