Conference for Quality Assurance in Erbil

((We have confident faith for raising the quality assurance at universities and institutes of Kurdistan Region)), his Excellency Professor. Dlawer A. Ala`Aldeen said in the conference held recently in Erbil for quality assurance in higher education.

The conference for developing the system of higher education in Iraq is held in Erbil, the capital of Kurdistan Region and the 2 days conference just started yesterday the 1st of March. His Excellency the minister of higher education and scientific research and other key persons in the higher education in Iraq and Kurdistan were among those present at the conference; Dr. Quraish Qaseer, representative of Iraqi prime minister for higher education affairs, Dr. Salah Nuaimy, representative of Iraq`s ministry of higher education, Dr. Abid Dhiab Ajily, former minister of higher education of Iraq and president of scientific committee in Iraqi parliament, in addition to presidents of universities in Iraq and Kurdistan Region.

The conference is mainly held for discussing quality assurance in higher education in Iraq.

The opening ceremony started with a speech by representatives of both prime minister and the minister of higher education of Iraq, they focused on the necessity of organizing of such conferences to discuss quality assurance to assure the best performance of higher education installations, in addition to put every available measures to retain the elite reputation to higher education in Iraq and to do the necessary reform in curricula and education.

His Excellency the minister of higher education and scientific research of Kurdistan Region welcomed all esteemed attendees of the conference who came from all parts of Iraq, in addition to this; his Excellency evaluated the great role of UNESCO office in Iraq for its support for developing education and higher education in Iraq. In His speech, his Excellency talked about the quality assurance in higher education installations in Kurdistan and he said; last year we have put strategic plan into our tasks and one of the significant parts of the plan is quality assurance in universities and institutes of Kurdistan, for this and with the support of all parties, we started the phase of implementing the plan and we are hoping and optimistic that the standards of higher education will be raised.

His Excellency also asked Kurdish academicians and scientists who are attending the conference to fully engage in every aspect and discussion during the conference for the sake of acquiring up to date knowledge and exchange ideas and to inform attendees of the conference with the radical changes witnessed in higher education in Kurdistan.

UNESCO office in Iraq represented by Dr. Muner Al Asali expressed utmost appreciation towards Kurdistan Regional Government for its important role in the organizing of the conference. Dr. Muner also talked about the nature of higher education in Iraq and the risks facing the development of it, in addition to importance of quality assurance in higher education.