COLLEGE OF LANGUAGES/ SALAHADDIN UNIVERSTY – ERBIL & INTERNATIONAL MAARIF SCHOOLS.
International Symposium on Global Perspectives in Education: Exploring Opportunities and Challenges.

COLLEGE OF LANGUAGES/ SALAHADDIN UNIVERSTY – ERBIL & INTERNATIONAL MAARIF SCHOOLS.
International Symposium on Global Perspectives in Education: Exploring Opportunities and Challenges.

April 27, 2024
Venue: Maarif International Schools/ Erbil
Time: 9.00 AM

Significance and scope of the symposium

The ministry of higher education and scientific research`s adoption of the Bologna process has set a milestone for drastic changes in the programmes of different scientific disciplines across the academic institutions in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. This process has necessitated a reconsideration of the programmes along with the pedagogical mechanisms. 

The departments that have adopted this process need to appreciate and invest in the opportunities that such a process may facilitate. They also need to address the challenges they may naturally face during the implementation stage. This symposium will address these opportunities and challenges to bring about a better understanding and appreciation of this global process and to recommend next steps for further improving its implementation.

Additionally, the symposium will address the needs and requirements for admission of teachers to international schools, which is likely to provide better chances for securing jobs for our graduates upon completing their studies.

Furthermore, the symposium intends to help further promote intercultural communication mechanisms amongst the nations in the region, which aligns with the mission of the college of Languages focusing on the role of language in strengthen mutual cultural understanding. 

Along the symposium, note taking will be conducted to finally produce a report that includes recommendation for the ministry of higher education to revisit the implementation of the Bologna process and other programme related matters for the universities in general, and the English departments in particular. 

The symposium will offer three panel discussions with the participation of local and international scholars in the fields listed below this document. İt will be concluded with a musical cultural activity.

Panel Discussion 1: Adoption of Bologna process opportunities and challenges 

Moderator: Ms. Zozan Mohammed-Fuad Masum
Affiliation: Salahaddin University Erbil

Speaker 1: Prof. Dr. Kawa Sherwani
Affiliation: Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research—KRG/ Erbil 

Speaker 2: Ms. Marhartya Al-Sultan 
Affiliation: International Maarif Schools-Erbil

Speaker 3: Ms. Layla Tahir Sharif
Affiliation: Sulaymaniyah Education General Directorate 

Panel Discussion 2: Promoting intercultural communication with neighbouring nations 

Moderator: Dr. Bander A. Muhammed
Affilliation: Salahaddin University Erbil

Speaker 1:  Dr. Sherzad Shafi Barzani
Affiliation: Salahaddin University-Erbil

Speaker 2: Ms. Mona Abdullah
Affiliation: International Maarif Schools-Erbil

Speaker 3: Dr. Sirwan Abdulkarim
Affiliation: Salahaddin University-Erbil

Panel Discussion 3: Teacher requirements and needs for international schools Moderator: Dr. Barzan Jaafar Ali

Speaker 1:  Prof. Dr. Fatima Raheed Hassan Al-Bajalani
Affiliation: Salahaddin University-Erbil

Speaker 2:  Ms. Inji Shukur
Affiliation: International Maarif Schools-Erbil

Speaker 3. Asst. Prof. Dr.  Lanja Abdulrazzaq Al-Dabbagh