UK Universities were on the road in Sulaymaniyah and Erbil, Iraq this week with the UK Education Tour.
Universities from England, Scotland and Wales were present to meet potential students for UK Higher Education. As well as the student recruitment events, Ministers from the Higher Education and Planning departments (who administer the HCDP scholarship programme in the Kurdish Region) presented to the UK university delegates about the latest programme developments.
Delegates exhibiting at the event enjoyed meeting students and making new contacts from all over Iraq, as students and higher education representatives came from as far afield as Kirkuk, Mosul, Dahok and Baghdad.
The event provided an excellent opportunity to network effectively with Ministerial, British Council and institutional staff, to meet and understand more fully the needs of some ambitious and talented students and, of course, to experience an albeit brief though pleasant introduction to the Iraqi people and culture.
Jeremy Burgess, University of Warwick
Later this year the Ministry of Planning from the Kurdish Regional Government will announce the next round of scholarhips, for over 1000 students: the lucky ones will be keen to meet UK universities in Spring 2013 (the large majority of students from the KRG choose to study in the UK).
The announcement of a US visa office in Erbil, however, will encourage students in the region to apply to study in the USA, as UKBA policies continue to frustrate potential UK students. Despite these challenges, the UK Consulate in Erbil is working hard to support applications to the UK, by servicing visas for HCDP scholarship students.
“Well organised on the day and the UKET team were friendly and supportive. I think the events were effective and would consider doing them again”.
Siobhan Robinson, Cardiff Metropolitan University
UK Education Tour highlights UK Higher Education in Turkey, Iraq and Azerbaijan.
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