SPARK — Higher Education for Refugees in the Middle East

Higher Education Across Borders: Iraqi government ministers and university professors visit Türkiye - SPARK 5 min survey Let us know how we're doing What we do Where we work About us Search العربية Join us Contact All regions Middle East and North Africa Sub-Saharan Africa Europe All locations Burundi Iraq Jordan Kosovo Lebanon Liberia Libya Palestinian Territories Rwanda Somalia/Somaliland South Sudan Syria Tunisia Türkiye Ukraine Western Europe About us Our services Our history Strategy 2030 Annual Reports Research Stories What we do Where we work About us History IGNITE Istanbul Our services Management Join us Contact Video Close Close Close Home Higher Education Across Borders: Iraqi government ministers and university professors visit Türkiye January 18, 2023 Higher Education Across Borders: Iraqi government ministers and university professors visit Türkiye Skill up Share this post An intensive study trip brings together professors from Iraqi and Turkish universities, as well as delegates from the Iraq Ministry of Higher Education, to improve the higher education system in Iraq. During a four-day study trip with professors from Mosul University and delegates from the Iraq Ministry of Higher Education, officials met with Turkish universities in Istanbul in a bid to improve the higher education system in Iraq. Together, the teams bridged the gap between Iraqi and Turkish universities in an effort to properly introduce the Bologna Process . This process is an important part of SPARK’s Jobs and Perspectives programme, financed by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which provides job opportunities for refugees and host communities, tackling the issue of unemployment in federal Iraq and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). The Bologna Process is an intergovernmental higher education reform process. Higher education systems are important for the development of all sectors of a country’s economy. In Iraq, it is essential to raise the standards of education and better match academia to the needs of the labour market. By developing and reforming the higher education system in Iraq and helping students receive internationally recognised diplomas, the chances of obtaining meaningful, sustained employment are higher. Therefore, the study trip was a useful way for stakeholders invested in Iraq’s higher education to learn more about the way the Bologna Process unfolds by observing Turkish universities’ practices and policies. Workshops Experts from SPARK also organised a series of workshops for the participating Mosul University staff, which included many themes and topics. The group from the Ministry of Higher Education participated in a similar set of workshops, during which the Bologna process was discussed further. As professor Armağan Erdoğan explained, “The Bologna process will help you speak with the world easily in terms of your degree.” Gender inclusion is another key component of the Jobs and Perspectives programme. SPARK experts provided a session on inclusion of women into higher education and discussed the issues they face. Visiting Bahcesehir and Sabanci Universities Academic staff from the University of Mosul and delegates from Iraq’s Ministry of Higher Education, accompanied by higher education experts from SPARK, visited Bahcesehir University and Sabanci University. Attendees observed the Turkish universities’ student admission criteria, teaching methods and diversity policies. This was crucial for both visiting groups, as they could benefit from the university’s applied experience and personalise it for the universities in Iraq. Student admissions Realising the importance of this, the Iraqi visitors utilised the questions and answers session to ask the university staff about many things. In return, the staff were eager to provide helpful answers and tips. For instance, in reply to the inquiry about how the university deals with international students, Hamdi Apalı from Bahcesehir University answered, “Before an…