RISE

The RISE project is built on two assumptions: the first relates to higher education’s pivotal role in the society, for the creation of responsible citizens from local to global levels, and the second concerns the increasing importance of filling the gap between academia and industry improving the employability rate of graduates nationally and internationally. The Kurdistan region of Iraq has experienced an exacerbated economic, political and social crisis, and is therefore in dire need to develop long-term solutions to tackle unemployment and to support the sustainable growth of the region.

In this context, internationalisation of HEIs and entrepreneurship can synergically contribute to reach this ambitious as well as highly needed achievement. Therefore, RISE project seeks to:

• Define an integrated and coordinated approach for institutional development, through a synergic roadmap integrating internationalization and employability
• Enhance skills and competences of university staff through capacity building of educators, administrative staff and students, empowering them to play an active role in the local and global scenarios for institutional and societal sustainable development
• Increase the attractiveness and international exposure of HEIs, through mobility, networking and strengthening internationalization services
• Improving the entrepreneurial mindset of students and graduates and reinforcing the relations between academia and industry for a new generation of young entrepreneurs and glocal citizens

The ultimate goal of RISE is to contribute to the sustainable development of the Kurdish society through the reinforcement of the institutional capacity of universities in generating a new class of young leaders, entrepreneurs, scientists, professionals and responsible world citizens, as active players in the global and local scenarios.

Associated partner of the project: Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in KRG (Iraq)