First steps towards the implementation of National Ranking

Dr. Yusuf Goran, the KRG Minister for Higher Education and Scientific Research starts his steps towards the implementation of the Project of National Ranking for the Kurdistan Region’s Universities.
In this framework and in an open dialogue on April 22, 2015 with the presence of Dr. Yusuf Goran, the ministry’s general directors and counselors, and Dr. Ebrahim Smo, head of the education and higher education committee in the Kurdistan Region Parliament, weak points and strong points in front of implementing the project were discussed.
In the dialogue, Dr. Shirwan Nuri, Head of Quality Assurance Office in the KRG Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research’s Divan, highlighted the steps towards the implementation of the Project of National Ranking for the Kurdistan Region’s Universities.
Later in a speech, Dr. Yusuf Goran said: “The implementation of the Project of National Ranking for the Kurdistan Region’s Universities is very important for the KRG, and the Presidency of the KRG Council of Ministers showed their full support for the project, since this project is a big support for the education process and raising the scientific level in the Kurdistan region universities.”
“ Our steps for succeeding the project has started and they will continue, because Kurdistan region universities need reformation for the sake of further serving the higher education sector in the Kurdistan region.” added Dr. Yusuf Goran.
Then, Dr. Shirwan Nuri shed light on the strong points of implementing the project, indicating the project will create competition among students and it will keep the scientific level of Kurdistan region universities high. He stressed the project will create the culture of transparency in the universities as well as it will urge skilled students for obtaining scholarships in the world famous universities.
He also talked about the weak points which need revision in terms of data-collection, data-documentation and reinforcing the quality assurance process in the universities. “For succeeding this project: special budget, judging during the evaluation, special databases, specialized and skilled personnel for running the databases should be provided.” He added.
He warned several factors such as disapproval of the results by the universities and giving incomplete data may put the project in danger.
Regarding plans and programs for developing the level of science in our universities, Dr. Shirwan Nuri indicated some points such as reinforcing the teacher-student relationship, creating cooperation among the universities, renewing the curriculums , emphasizing the English language, promoting the quality assurance, development of training courses for lecturers, giving importance to the system of working and proper locations for the universities and special campuses are factors for progressing the scientific standards and levels of Kurdistan region universities.