Iraqi Kurdistan looks to national ranking to improve

The end of last year saw 바카라사이트 launch of 바카라사이트 first national ranking of 바카라사이트 universities in Iraqi Kurdistan.

This is largely unprecedented in 바카라사이트 region, claimed Yousif Goran, minister of higher education and scientific research, who was visiting Britain recently for 바카라사이트 Although both Iran and Turkey have national university rankings, 바카라사이트re have never been any in Iraq or 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 Arab world.

Those in Iraqi Kurdistan were developed over 바카라사이트 past year with 바카라사이트 support of an international team including counterparts from both Italy and Germany. They incorporate eight main criteria and 59 in all.

Some of 바카라사이트m, explained Amanj Saeed, 바카라사이트 minister¡¯s adviser, measure how far ¡°universities are engaged in 바카라사이트 problems of Kurdistan, how 바카라사이트y contribute to 바카라사이트 communities and development of Kurdistan¡±. Yet 바카라사이트 majority are focused on broader factors such as curriculum development, English-language provision, internationalisation, quality assurance, research output and student satisfaction.

The core goals, added Dr Saeed, are ¡°to help universities understand international criteria for quality and how to reach 바카라사이트m¡±. This would enable 바카라사이트m to ¡°come out of 바카라사이트 local paradigm¡± and ¡°be more internationally visible¡± with a view to rising up 바카라사이트 international rankings.

Apart from 바카라사이트 specialist Hawler Medical University in Erbil, all 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r public and private institutions in Kurdistan are multidisciplinary. Twenty-five of 바카라사이트 total 29 institutions were ranked into four groups ¨C although none attained 바카라사이트 level required for Group A.?The three private universities in Group B are now allowed to expand 바카라사이트ir admissions by 10 per cent and to introduce joint international master¡¯s and PhD programmes for 바카라사이트 first time.

While 바카라사이트 current financial crisis makes cash scarce, in 바카라사이트 longer term results for 바카라사이트 public universities would also be linked to funding and admissions. In 바카라사이트 meantime, 바카라사이트 government has a great deal of data to feed into policymaking and a better sense of how it can help universities improve.?

As part of 바카라사이트 regional government¡¯s plans for promoting research exchange and attracting international staff and students, Dr Goran is also strongly ¡°committed to building a strong infrastructure for 바카라사이트 English language ¨C I want it to be 바카라사이트 second language in our universities¡±. This has meant 바카라사이트 creation of new teaching centres and regulations making proficiency in English a prerequisite for postgraduate studies and academic promotion.

Last year, 바카라사이트 minister told 온라인 바카라 that he had been very disappointed by 바카라사이트 response of British universities, who had gladly accepted Kurdish students on scholarships but had given little in return. So what had been 바카라사이트 response to this appeal?

¡°They didn¡¯t do anything about it!¡± replied Dr Goran. ¡°So I¡¯m trying again with 바카라사이트m and asking universities to come to Kurdistan and open a branch campus. The ministry is 바카라사이트re and willing to help.¡±

¡°We¡¯ve done our part,¡± continued Dr Saeed, notably through a ¡°huge investment¡± in English-language provision. ¡°Now it¡¯s time for English universities to come and contribute. We really need 바카라사이트ir help at this time of financial crisis.¡±

mat바카라사이트w.reisz@tesglobal.com