Charles Darwin University Vice-Chancellor Professor Barney Glover visited Iraq this week to establish education links in the northern region of Kurdistan.
Professor Glover said that during his brief visit to Iraq he met with senior representatives of government, business and the higher education sector to explore opportunities as the Kurdistan Regional Government moved ahead in the post-recovery period.
The Vice-Chancellor met with the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Dr Barham Salih, to discuss a scholarship program that would see the Government fund 1100 Masters and PhD candidates to study at universities internationally. The scholars would return to Iraq to help with the rebuilding program.
“Universities in the US and UK have already visited the area, but Australia has been a little slower in making links in this relatively secure area of Iraq,” he said.
“During our talks, Dr Salih expressed very positive views toward Australia as a destination for higher degree students.”
Professor Glover said he was interested in attracting Iraqi students to both Australia and to CDU.
CDU would soon sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the largest and oldest educational institution in Iraqi Kurdistan, the University of Sulaimani, to explore research, teaching and staff exchange possibilities.
He said CDU would also host a Research Fellow from the region.