Announcement

International Conference of Higher Education in Iraq

Erbil, Kurdistan-Iraq

11 - 13 December 2007

Following the success of the symposia on higher education in Iraq, held at the University of Westminster in 2004 and 2005, the Iraq Higher Education Organising Committee is pleased to announce The International Conference on Higher Education in Iraq.   The conference will be held in 11 - 13 December 2007 in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan Region, by invitation of the region’s Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.

The mission of the conference is to foster partnership for the development of higher education in Iraq to achieve international standards and recognition. It aims to bring together representatives of universities and other interested parties from the UK and other countries and their Iraqi counterparts in order:

 1.  to define viable strategies for partnerships in courses, research, academic
      assessment and quality assurance, and

 2. to explore avenues for investment in the higher education sector.

The conference will be organised in plenary sessions and workshops covering inter alia:

1. Modalities for the organisation of a socio – economically responsive higher education sector

2. Capacity building and personnel development for academic and higher administration staff

3. Curriculum development and modern teaching methods:

4. Quality Assurance, Assessment and Evaluation of the members of academic staff activities:

5. Graduate studies programs and scientific research.  

6. University and community (role, the labour market).  

7. Higher Education modes (private, open learning, distance education).
    
8. Decentralisation of Higher Education in Iraq.

The intention is that high-ranking decision-empowered academics and their counterparts from industry, commerce and public bodies should participate.

Erbil is the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan. It is a pleasant historic city at the foot of the Zagros Mountains. There are direct flights from several European cities and hotel accommodation is of international standard.

Funding is limited, but the conference organisers will meet the conference fees and travel and accommodation expenses of participants invited to address plenary sessions or make substantial presentations to workshops. 

Those interested are requested to submit their full paper to the Secretary General of IHEOC, Dr Abbas Al-Hussaini at iraqhe@btopenworld.com
 by
21 October 2007

IHEOC, University of Westminster, London, UK, alhussa@wmin.ac.uk