Leaders of universities in Europe and Iraqi Kurdistan met in Erbil in November to discuss ongoing efforts to improve higher education in the region. (Photos: Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Kurdistan Region in Iraq)
Kurdish and European university leaders have held the first face-to-face meeting in a three-year project to improve higher education in Iraqi Kurdistan.
Held on November 29 and 30 in the regional capital of Erbil, it brought together participants in the Apprais project, started by the Mediterranean Universities Union (Unimed) early last year.
Unimed, a Rome-based organisation grouping 140 universities from 23 countries, sees Apprais as a model for university reform in other parts of Iraq.
Staff members from eight Kurdish universities (Salahaddin University, University of Sulaimani, University of Duhok, Halabja University, Duhok Polytechnic University, University of Garmian, University of Zakho, and Charmo University) met with colleagues from four universities in Italy, Norway, Spain, and Portugal.
Previous meetings and webinars took place online because of the Covid-19 pandemic and intermittent lockdowns.
“Unimed and representatives of European and Kurdish universities met in Erbil to share and disseminate the first-year work results,” Salah Saeed, president of Charmo University, in Sulaymaniyah in Iraqi Kurdistan, wrote to Al-Fanar Media.
