IIE/SRF Visiting Scholar Workshops in Erbil, Iraq
Expanding Academic Collaboration and Institutional Linkages between the United States and Iraq
June 27-30, 2012 | Erbil, Iraq

IIE and IIE’s Scholar Rescue Fund held a conference and training workshop on expanding academic partnerships between the United States and Iraq from June 27-29, 2012 in Erbil, Iraq. Approximately 165 individuals participated in the conference, including representatives from Iraqi universities, SRF visiting scholars, Iraqi government officials, and U.S. Embassy officials.  The purpose of this symposium was to provide an overview of current dynamism and broadened scope of international academic partnerships; to provide an overview of models and strategies for initiating, managing and sustaining a range of international partnerships; to suggest tools and resources suitable to the Iraqi higher education sector’s capacity development efforts;  and to focus on best practices in developing or expanding mutually beneficial linkages between U.S. and Iraq higher education institutions. Conference sessions featured U.S. university experts in developing international partnerships, particularly with Iraq. Iraqi university leaders and scholars also presented on key trends in their country and on the challenges and opportunities in Iraq.

Pictured below: Dr. Said Hussein Ali Al-Thalab, Vice President of Scientific Affairs, Tikrit University, presents the seal of the University to Dr. Allan Goodman, President and CEO, IIE

IIE/SRF Visiting Scholar Workshops in Erbil, Iraq
Standards of Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Higher Education
January 29 - 31, 2012

The Institute of International Education's Scholar Rescue Fund convened a conference on advancing Iraqi higher education with more than 180 Iraqi scholars, university presidents, vice presidents, deans, Iraqi government officials, U.S. Embassy officials, and international experts.  Speakers at the three day training workshop, from January 29 – 31 in Erbil, addressed quality assurance, accreditation and recognition schemes in the contemporary higher education landscape.  The event was the third in a series of seven conferences arranged by IIE’s Scholar Rescue Fund and IIE’s Center for International Partnerships in Higher Education, to engage key stakeholders in higher education development efforts in Iraq.

Pictured below (left to right): Dr. Mohammed Jabir, President of Al-Nahrain University (in Baghdad), Dr. Salah Aziz, President of Kurdistan University of Science and Technology (KUST), and Judith Eaton, President of Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

IIE/SRF Visiting Scholar Workshops in Erbil, Iraq
Models and Trends in Contemporary Higher Education
June 22 - 24, 2011

The Institute of International Education (IIE), in cooperation with IIE’s Scholar Rescue Fund (SRF), held a conference on advancing higher education in Iraq from June 22-24 in Erbil, Iraq. More than 140 Iraqi scholars, Iraqi public university presidents, vice presidents, and deans, Iraqi government officials, U.S. Embassy officials, and international experts participated. This important academic event was designed to engage key stakeholders in encouraging major positive progress on higher education reform efforts in Iraq. IIE and the Scholar Rescue Fund plan to hold five additional conferences in Iraq over three years, with the next one scheduled for January 2012.

Pictured below: Day 1 of the June 2011 conference

IIE/SRF Visiting Scholar Conference in Amman, Jordan
Reconstruction of Higher Education in Iraq Post-Conflict
January 26 - 28, 2011

The SRF Iraq Project held a major three-day conference on the Reconstruction of Higher Education in Iraq Post-Conflict  in collaboration with the Post-war Reconstruction and Development Unit (PRDU) of the University of York in January 2011. An estimated 180 participants attended this key academic event, including Iraqi SRF scholar-grantees, Iraqi public and private university presidents, international experts and key regional strategic partners, and the Kurdish Regional Government’s (KRG) Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Dr. Dlewar Ala'Aldeen.  The primary purpose of the conference was to create a forum for reflection on rebuilding Iraqi higher education and for scholarly discussion of original research papers authored by Iraq Project scholar-grantees.   SRF scholars on fellowship, program alumni, and educational experts were invited to submit original research papers on topics related to the reconstruction of the higher education and science sectors in Iraq. Topics addressed at the conference included: “Application of Quality Assurance for Higher Education in Iraq”; “Restoration of Order to Universities: A Key Factor for the Reconstruction of Higher Education in Iraq”; “Iraqi Higher Education Improvement Using Learning Management Systems”; and “A Leading Role for Universities on Gender.”

The conference proceedings were opened by IIE Vice Chair and SRF Chairman, Dr. Henry Jarecki.   HRH Prince El Hassan bin Talal of Jordan delivered the conference keynote address, speaking on the importance and historical development of higher education within the West Asia North Africa (WANA) region. IIE President and CEO, Dr. Allan Goodman, addressed the scholars on the second day of the conference speaking about rebuilding Baghdad’s “House of Wisdom.” Professor Sultan Barakat, the founding Director of PRDU, served as the conference facilitator. HRH Prince Talal bin Muhammad provided the closing remarks for the conference.

Pictured Below: HRH Prince El Hassan bin Talal of Jordan delivering the conference keynote address

IIE/SRF Visiting Scholar Workshops in Jordan
January 6, 2010

IIE/SRF visiting scholars in the MENA region are invited to participate in training workshops to take place January 4-8 in Amman, Jordan.  To read about the workshops please click here.

On January 8th SRF Chairman and IIE Trustee Dr. Henry Jarecki addressed Iraqi Visiting Professors at the Columbia University Middle East Research Center (CUMERC) in Amman.  To read a full transcript of the speech please click here.

To read the speech in Arabic please click here

Pictured below (left to right): Professor Safwan Masri, Director, Middle East Research Center, Columbia University and Dr. Henry Jarecki, Chairman, IIE SRF