On February 26-27, the Convention Center of the University of Duhok, in the Kurdistan region of Iraq hosted the kick-off meeting of the RISE project “Reinforcing Integration of Skills for Employability and Internationalisation in Kurdistan region of Iraq”, a two-years EU funded project within the Erasmus+ programme under the Capacity Building for higher education action. This gathering marked the beginning of a new learning journey, fostering collaboration and setting the stage for impactful developments.

With the aim of promoting internationalization of higher education, enhancing entrepreneurship and boosting employability of young graduates and students, the RISE project, led by UNIMED, includes: Akre University for Applied Sciences, Duhok Polytechnic University, Erbil Polytechnic University, Sulaimani Polytechnic University, University of Duhok, University of Garmian and University of Zakho and 3 European partners – UNIMED, University of International Studies of Rome (UNINT) and University of Murcia, with the support of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in KRG as associated partner. Thanks to this international consortium, RISE seeks to foster sustainable development by strengthening universities to cultivate future leaders, entrepreneurs, and professionals who can thrive locally and globally.

Launch of the project: openings

The event began with a warm welcome from Dr. Dawood Atrushi, President of the University of Duhok, who pointed out the relevance and the necessity of a project like RISE since today universities play a pivotal role in shaping global citizens, by producing global graduates and fostering cross-cultural understanding through building bridges between different cultures. 

Second on stage as invited guest  Dr. Mohammed Hussein Ahmed, Director General, Head of the Apparatus of Supervision and Quality Assurance at the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) who emphasized that the initiative is in line  with the Ministry’s strategy and with the ongoing efforts of both Universities and Ministry to implement the new HE strategy through Bologna Process implementation and internationalisation. 

Furthermore, “The RISE project aims to continue the path of the APPRAIS project and the successful collaboration between UNIMED and the universities from Kurdistan region of Iraq” – concluded the UNIMED Director, Dr. Marcello Scalisi who joined remotely. Some of the activities foreseen in RISE are within the legacy of the APPRAIS project, that aimed, among all actions, to equip the universities in the Kurdistan region of Iraq with an international mindset, delivering training to some staff members on how to best benefit from international cooperation and mobility.

Finally, Dr. Carla Giulietti, RISE Project Officer at the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) intervened, expressing her confidence in the RISE’s potential to generate long-term impact. She praised the decision to host the first event in the beneficiary country, reinforcing the ownership of the initiative by  universities. And she added RISE has all the correct ingredients for success!

RISE overview: best practices for internationalisation and employability

Silvia Marchionne, UNIMED Project Manager and RISE Project Coordinator, together with Martina Zipoli, UNIMED Project Manager, provided an in-depth presentation of the initiative, the rationale behind the project idea, the main expected outcomes and its attended impact, together with the next steps and activities to be implemented.

The meeting also featured presentations from the European partners: Dr. Mariagrazia Russo, Rector of the International University of Rome (UNINT), Italy and Alicia Rubio Banon, Vice-Rector for Students and Employment at the University of Murcia, Spain, who shared experiences on the internationalisation of their institutions and on how to boost an entrepreneurial mindset and employability patterns, stressing the role and responsibility of universities  in supporting graduates’ career prospects.

A dynamic discussion followed, with participants emphasizing the importance of students’ involvement, local and international collaborations, the engagement of stakeholders, and the creation of better synergies between Career Development Centers (CDCs), university departments and International Relations Offices (IRO) for institutional performance.

Key representatives of all local beneficiary universities – respectively Akre University for Applied Sciences, Duhok Polytechnic University, Erbil Polytechnic University, Sulaimani Polytechnic University, University of Duhok, University of Garmian and University of Zakho – presented their institutions to the audience and contributed to kick-off the collaboration with their perspectives and expectations for the RISE project, focusing on enhancing internationalisation, employability, and collaboration opportunities for their institutions. Their insights will be fundamental in the implementation of the RISE project and its sustainability, taking into account the specific needs of the HE system.

A collaborative path forward

The RISE kick-off meeting successfully concluded with a second day of presentations and fruitful discussions among partners about the main activities to be implemented during the lifetime of the project and with a clear shared work plan. The productive reflections and discussions laid the groundwork for the next two-years of collaborative work. With clear objectives, strong institutional commitments, and a shared vision, the project seeks to make a significant impact, both on academic staff and students.