Erbil, Thursday (May 14, 2026)
Today, Assist. Prof. Dr. Chiaa Kamal Saadi delivered a scientific seminar titled “The Role of the Art Teacher Between Practice and Theory,” highlighting the differences between an art teacher and an artist, as well as the changing responsibilities of teachers across different stages of higher education.
During the seminar, it was explained that an art teacher is not merely an artist, but rather a combination of both artist and educator. A successful art teacher must not only possess expertise in fields such as music, painting, theater, and cinema, but also have the ability to teach and systematically transfer knowledge to students. It was further emphasized that while every art teacher is an artist, not every artist necessarily has the ability to teach, because the teacher’s mission is to shape artists and cultivate creativity among students.
In another part of the seminar, the hierarchy of teachers’ roles according to academic qualifications was discussed in detail:
- Bachelor’s Level (Teaching):
The primary responsibility of the teacher is to transfer foundational knowledge and teach the principles and rules of the discipline to students. - Master’s Level (Guiding):
At this stage, the teacher’s role shifts from direct teaching to guiding and mentoring students in conducting academic research and developing critical thinking skills. - Doctoral Level (Supervising & Creating Knowledge):
At this level, the teacher functions as a supervisor, with the primary aim of generating new knowledge and theories and conducting innovative research, rather than merely repeating existing information.
The seminar concluded by emphasizing that each academic stage has its own distinct characteristics and scientific functions, beginning with teaching the fundamentals and culminating in the production of knowledge.
