Dr. Yousif Goran, the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research of Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) said: "Our ministry has spent nearly 12 million pounds for students of the Human Capacity Development Program in Higher Education (HCDP) in UK's universities, but those universities were not cooperative with us in the current situation of Kurdistan Region.
These statements by the KRG Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research came during his welcome to Baroness Nicholson, UK PM's Special Envoy for Trade Affaires on March 03, 2015 in the Divan of the KRG Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in Erbil.
In a meeting, Mr. Nicholson thanked the KRG Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and stated the aim of his visit is to creating and reinforcing bilateral ties between the Kurdistan Region and UK in the higher education aspect, as well as promoting scientific and academic capabilities exchange among the universities of Kurdistan Region and UK.
On return, Dr. Yousif Goran said:" UK universities and UK's education system have a key role in developing the scientific standards of Kurdistan Region universities and exchanging students, therefore, this cooperation should be continuous especially in the current conditions which Kurdistan Region passes through."
Concerning Kurdistan Region's investment in UK in the higher education sector, Dr. Yousif Goran said: "Our ministry has spent nearly 12 million pounds for students of the Human Capacity Development Program in Higher Education (HCDP) in UK's universities, thus we expected more from UK's universities to cooperate Kurdistan Region universities, especially in the current conditions of Kurdistan Region, since 1500 Kurdish students in higher education of Masters and PhD degrees, made the UK their study destinations."
"To raise the scientific standard of our university lecturers we need UK's cooperation, since they can help us in different specializations," Dr. Yousif Goran added.
Regarding this, Britain PM's Special Envoy for Trade Affaires expressed his country's readiness to cooperate and exchange expertise between both sides.
* Announcement by Media department of the KRG Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.