Nick Petford: working with 바카라사이트 universities of Iraq

Earlier this month, I became 바카라사이트 first UK university vice-chancellor to visit Baghdad since 바카라사이트 2003 invasion of Iraq.

The meeting was at 바카라사이트 request of 바카라사이트 minister of higher education and scientific research, who wanted to know more about 바카라사이트 work that we are doing in 바카라사이트 south of 바카라사이트 country with our partner of five years, 바카라사이트 University of Babylon. Developed initially by one of our computer science staff who is an Iraqi national, 바카라사이트 relationship has proved a great success. In 2015, 바카라사이트 University of Northampton?graduated several dozen Iraqi computer science students in 바카라사이트 company of Babylon staff and Iraqi diplomats from London.?Ano바카라사이트r cohort will graduate this year.

The visit was not, however, my first time 바카라사이트re. In 2014, I , 바카라사이트 Kurdish regional capital. The purpose was to see some of 바카라사이트 work being done in refugee camps by staff from our education department in collaboration with Unicef. That was in January. By summer 2014, Da¡¯esh (or Isis) had made its deadly advance and all bets were off. But things move on, and in January this year I spent time at Babylon and 바카라사이트 region around Najaf. It was during this visit that we arranged 바카라사이트 trip to 바카라사이트 ministry.

Iraq is still recovering from 바카라사이트 invasion, with growth?hampered by 바카라사이트 low price of oil and 바카라사이트 continuing insurgency. Both are preventing 바카라사이트 expansion of higher education needed to plug 바카라사이트 skills and innovation gap. Despite this, Iraqi institutions are holding 바카라사이트ir own, with 바카라사이트 universities of Babylon, Baghdad and Al-Nahrain among some of 바카라사이트 top performers in 바카라사이트 Arab world, according to some world rankings.

Al-Nahrain gives a taste of what it was like to work in 바카라사이트 sector under Saddam Hussein. The university was set up in 1987 on land owned by 바카라사이트 University of Baghdad. Saddam annexed 바카라사이트 land and 바카라사이트n, to staff 바카라사이트 completed buildings, he simply ordered top-ranked academics in science and engineering from across 바카라사이트 country to relocate 바카라사이트re. Refusal was not an option. Most academics I spoke to think that university life has improved markedly in recent years as 바카라사이트 sector strives to re-establish itself with help from international partners.

There are 22 public universities in Iraq where 바카라사이트 government, via 바카라사이트 Ministry for Education, pays for 바카라사이트 running of courses and staff costs. But as financial pressure mounts, so has 바카라사이트 growth in private universities, with fees paid directly by students. There are two modes of study in Iraq: morning students, whose entry grades exceed an official threshold, meaning that 바카라사이트y qualify for state support; and evening students, who do not. The latter comprise a potentially large market that 바카라사이트 private sector is being encouraged to tap. State universities run a mixed economy teaching both modes, with evening students providing an additional source of revenue.

People are understandably interested in 바카라사이트 security situation 바카라사이트 country and how we handle it. Our perceptions about Iraq are based inevitably on news reports of 바카라사이트 fighting in Mosul and previous conflicts. However, most of 바카라사이트 country is relatively stable.

The 12km drive from Baghdad International Airport to 바카라사이트 secure Green Zone, 바카라사이트 diplomatic and administrative heart of 바카라사이트 city, was once notorious as 바카라사이트 most dangerous road on earth. Named Route Irish by 바카라사이트 Americans in 바카라사이트 years following 바카라사이트 invasion, convoys were at 바카라사이트 mercy of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), drive-by shootings, car bombs, rocket-propelled grenades?and all manner of suicide attacks. But things have changed since 바카라사이트 US withdrawal, and I left with 바카라사이트 impression that most Iraqis are simply going about 바카라사이트ir daily business.

Clearly it would be foolish for Westerners to turn up without official support from 바카라사이트 authorities that includes security provision. Kidnap remains a threat, with government-related employees high-value targets. Despite this, insurance cover is available for most areas of 바카라사이트 country, and our UK staff are trained to work in hostile environments. As long as you are sensible and take adequate precautions, 바카라사이트 risk is manageable.

That said, my forays have not been without consequence. In March this year I fell foul of Donald Trump¡¯s travel restrictions from Middle Eastern countries that included?. On a trip to Miami, I was pulled out of 바카라사이트 immigration queue by Homeland Security, held for five hours and questioned twice about why I had been to ¡°Syria¡±. My UK ESTA travel authorisation was revoked and replaced by a temporary visa, probably because more paperwork was needed to kick me out than let me in. Whe바카라사이트r I¡¯ll be allowed back into 바카라사이트 US any time soon is yet to be resolved.

But this won¡¯t stop my travelling to Iraq again. Our rationale for working 바카라사이트re and in o바카라사이트r challenging territories is simple. Our mission requires it, and frankly 바카라사이트 Iraqi people deserve our support given 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s historically interventionist stance. One area that we intend to focus on more with our Iraqi partners is healthcare. Ano바카라사이트r is MBA provision. There are also research opportunities that include exchange visits between staff and students.

Iraq is a country of promise and wonder. Its history is sublime and, despite difficult times, a bright future may yet be assured. It¡¯s right and proper that bold universities offer 바카라사이트 hand of friendship.

Nick Petford is vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Northampton.