Dr. Yousif Gorran announced that they are trying to launch Job Opportunity Center in Universities in order to strengthen the relations of universities and companies and, subsequently, solve the problems of graduate students. His Excellency presented his speech during a meeting held by the Implementing Council of Kurdistan Teachers Union on Thursday, 19th of February 2015, in the main building of the Union in Erbil.
During this meeting, several issues were discussed
First of all, Mr. Abdulwaheed Mohammad, the Secretary of Kurdistan Teachers Union, on behalf of the Implementing Council of Kurdistan Teachers Union, welcomed his Excellency, Mr. Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and his team, and expressed his happiness for their presence in the meeting. Later, he informed about the purpose of the mutual meeting and declared: “We would like to discuss the efforts to formulate programs of higher education and working hours of the universities, in addition to providing some discussion on how to present job opportunities for graduate students, and, finally, how to increase the quality level of the universities in general”. Furthermore, the Secretary of Kurdistan Teachers Union requested the related authorities to select the representative of their Union in the ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research's council, as is mentioned in the laws of Teachers Union.
Dr. Yousif Gorran: Teachers are the Founders of Future Human Beings
After expressing his happiness for being invited to the meeting, His Excellency, the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research signified the role of teachers and informed that teachers are the founders of future individuals.
8th Cabinet has been formed during a special period
Regarding the activities and projects of his office, the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research informed: “(8) months have passed from the establishment of the 8th cabinet of Kurdistan Regional Government. The formation of this cabinet has occurred in a period which has faced the region with both economic and security crises. But, fortunately, our government has managed to create a kind of solidarity due to its coalition system, and therefore, has successfully solved to decrease our problems. Accordingly, our plans for projects of the ministry have been affected by these issues. But, in spite of the crisis, we have been able to implement some of the critical projects on our own. Mr. Minister further went on and discussed about the activities of his ministry and informed:
National Ranking for Universities will go into implementatio phase for next year
“We have recently been able to improve the quality of the universities. Because, the rank of Kurdistan universities was on a low level in the recent Ranking Statistics of World Universities, our best university being the 4000th university in the list. That is why we are trying to establish a project named “National Ranking for Universities” in order to increase the rank of the universities of Kurdistan Region. After getting benefit from world standards, fortunately, our project has been completed and will be executed next year, meaning that we will do the ranking for Kurdistan universities. This, however, will create a competitive environment among all universities and will subsequently increase the education quality of the region”.
PHD Study has been formulated with a Modern System
Dr. Yousif Gorran, in a speech, informed that higher education/PhD. study in Kurdistan has faded away during the past four years due to Capacity Building Program and Split Site System. But, there have been new developments about this issue, among which English language is considered as an important factor. The applicant must have a universal English certificate. Moreover, he must publish more than one scientific research in a universal academic magazine.
We will launch Job Opportunity Center in universities
Dr. Yousif Gorran announced that they are trying to launch Job Opportunity Center in Universities in order to solve the problems of graduate students and to strengthen the relations of universities and companies. “Through using this center, we would like to formulate our study programs in a way to meet market needs. The center will also be responsible of checking graduates’ status and the way they handle their job in the market”. Dr. Gorran further mentioned that the ministry is going to implement the project in close coordination with international organizations.
English language will be considered as a knowledge language in universities
In order to improve English language level among students, the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research informed that they are working on opening the office of British Council in the universities of Kurdistan Region. This will provide the teachers with a variety of English courses for improving the level quality of universities. The same system has been applied in Arabic countries, because their language was insufficient to keep up with recent modern developments. Additionally, our universities have a big problem in recognizing a knowledge language and, after establishing this new system, things will get much better.
Scientific Research Is Weak in Kurdistan
Dr. Yousif Gorran mentioned the fact that the participation of teachers in scientific research in Kurdistan region is very weak. He also revealed that every teacher in the United States of America allocates 33 hours for scientific research while in Iraq only 1 hour and half is allocated. Unfortunately, the duration is shorter in Kurdistan universities. That is why we need to catch up with the standards of world universities or else our development will not get fulfilled and success will vanish soon.
It is important for the representative of Kurdistan Teachers Union to move to the Ministry
Regarding the selection of the representative of Kurdistan Teachers Union in the meetings held by the Council of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Dr. Yousif Gorran informed that the members of the Ministry Council are chosen according to its laws and there is no mentioning of the representative of the union at all. This refers to unawareness of ruling authorities of the laws they decreed. His Excellency signified the role of Union’s representative and the importance of its presence.
We will open a new department in the College of Basic Education on the basis of two factors
In another round of his meeting, Dr. Yousif Gorran listened to the comments and suggestions of members of the Implementing Council of Kurdistan Teachers Union, and finally presented some answers and questions as well. With regards to the request of most of the teachers for opening the departments of Art and Sports in the College of Basic Education, evening classes, Dr. Gorran informed that his ministry will open the new departments based on two factors. First factor depends on a direct request from the Ministry of Education. The second factor depends on the capacity of the ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. In addition to these factors, the Ministry of Finance has recently released new guidelines which may unable us from opening new departments in the related universities.
We need to formulate a new system for granting scientific titles
With regards to providing scientific titles to Masters Degree graduates who are under the Ministry of Education, Dr. Yousif Gorran informed “Council of Ministers needs to form a system for the law which was voted for in the Kurdistan Parliament and is related to M.A. and PhD. graduates”. He stressed that Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research has expressed his decision about the matter to the KRG Council of Ministers. Dr. Gorran informed that this system is related to Finance, Education and some other ministries, organizations and offices.
Ministry Office in Kirkuk is following up on higher education in Kurdish areas outside Kurdistan Region in order to open a Kurdish University in the city. Dr. Yousif Gorran announced that the ministry has placed its office in Kirkuk to solve the problems of the Kurdish areas outside Kurdistan Region’s borders. “We have fortunately been able to solve most of the problems in these areas and our office will follow up its procedure to strengthen the quality of higher education in all Kurdish areas outside the borders of Kurdistan Regional Government” Dr. Gorran announced. In a press conference, Mr. Abdulwaheed Mohammed, the Secretary of Kurdistan Teachers Union, expressed his ultimate joy for the presence of his Excellency, Mr. Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and informed that his attendance has been of great advantage and benefit for their union.
Dr. Yousif Gorran emphasized that such meetings are significant for the ministry, because they will enable us to explain the problems in a scientific and academic way. He also mentioned that the comments and suggestions of attendees were of importance for us and will give us the knowledge to pave the way for fulfilling our future plans and serving our nation in the best possible way.
The financial problems of the candidates of Capacity Building Program are related to the crisis of Kurdistan Region
Dr. Yousif Gorran informed that Capacity Building Program is one of the ministry’s main programs and most of the students have already graduated and returned to their country. “Our ministry has done its best to solve all of the financial problems of those who are currently studying under this program”. He also mentioned that the responsibilities of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research regarding this program are limited to administration issues and list preparation. But, their financial issues are related to Kurdistan’s current crisis. He hoped that the Higher Commission of Council of Ministers for Capacity Building Program will be able to solve the problems and settle the issues so that the candidates could continue their studies under best possible conditions.
Media Department of theKRG Ministry of Higher Education