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The higher education sector in Kurdistan Region of Iraq has expanded rapidly in the last 14 years, but there has been only limited quality control of the higher education system. This exploratory study examines the perceptions of university representatives about the quality of higher education in the Region. It explores the higher education system from the perspective of the academic staff and university leaders, with a focus on evaluating the system's quality. The findings from the analysis of a quantitative online questionnaire survey carried out in four public universities in the region are presented and discussed, comparing the responses from different groups of respondents. The survey used closed questions, although respondents could add open-ended textual comments at the end of the questionnaire. The sample population compromised of 703 participants, but responses were received from only 123 participants (17%). The survey included the following dimensions of quality: teaching; leadership; facilities; funding and employability. The results demonstrate that the majority of respondents were critical of the higher education system in the region. Less than 15% of respondents had positive perception about the current higher education systems, and more than 60% were negative. Furthermore, the leadership of the universities were also dissatisfied with both higher education system and their own role. All respondents expressed a clear desire for more focus and more research on this important topic.