The Kurdish Globe: More than 1,600 students have been granted the opportunity (April 2012)
The higher education relationship between Kurdish students and UK universities has strengthened since the KRG launched its Human Capacity Development program, with additional UK universities willing to enroll Kurdish students intent on studying in the UK.
The former KRG higher education Minister Dr. Dlawar Aladdin and UK University’s minister of higher education David Willets speak to reporters during a press conference in Erbil./ GLOBE PHOTO/Safin Hame
Some 14 universities from Britain have visited Kurdistan region in the last couple of weeks. This is the first time a group of eminent foreign universities visit the region, thrilling those who want to continue their studies abroad.
“We have a group of universities coming from UK, some for the first time, and some of them have been investing in a relationship for years with Kurdish universities, helping to train and educate students from the Kurdistan region,” said David Mitchell, managing director at Levant Education Consulting, to The Kurdish Globe.
Mitchell believes the presence of UK universities in Kurdistan is a golden opportunity to further improve educational ties between the two sides and to give students a chance to benefit from quality education in Britain. “The main reason we are here today is to invite potential Kurdish students looking to study in UK.”
“It’s a fabulous success,” said Chris Bowers, British general consul in Kurdistan region, during a press conference at Erbil’s British consulate. “Higher education has been one of our major focuses here. We have a great future ahead in terms of the relationship between Kurdish and British universities, and that is tremendously exciting.”
More than 1,600 students have been granted the opportunity to continue their studies at leading international universities in Europe and the U.S. under the KRG’s Human Capacity Development program, which was launched in 2010 with $100 million. It is administered by the KRG Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.
UK Education Tour is the leading UK-focussed education specialist in the region. We have broken new ground in Iraq, Iraqi Kurdistan and Azerbaijan, using our experience to maximise value for UK education providers, particularly HE and HE pathways.
UK Universities with Iraqi Director of Scholarships. L-R: Noor Al Zubaidi, Bangor University; Jon Inegbedion, Southampton University; Dave Liston, Liverpool John Moores University; Sarah Byrne, Liverpool School of English; Andrew Mandebura, Huddersfield University; James Kennedy, University of Warwick; Dr Bahaa Kadhum, Director General of Scholarships & Cultural Relations, Iraq Government; Jenny Saville, Nottingham Trent University; David Mitchell, Levant Education Group; Prof R Gill, Middlesex University; Tim Kerrdineen, Kings Colleges.
Political conditions are looking favourable for UK student recruitment from Iran, and Levant Education has already conducted a reconnaissance trip to Iran in February 2013. The Iranian market is already one of the fastest growing in the world, with an increase in 2012/13 of 25.2% to the USA alone.
UK Universities with KRG Higher Education Ministry
With a thaw in relations with ‘the West’ and a loosening of economic sanctions, 2014 is looking like the time to focus recruitment efforts on this important market.
If you are interested in receiving early information, a market report and future exhibition details, please complete this short form and we’ll keep you posted.
UK education came to Kurdistan this week, running a lively campaign to promote UK education in Erbil and Suleymaniyah during the election season.
Despite election fever, a good turnout proved once again that UK education is extremely well regarded in the region, and as far as sponsored and private students are concerned, will always be first past the post.
Dr Abbas, University of Suleymaniyah
Students in Erbil
Student in Erbil meets University of Sheffield
Student in Erbil
Student in Suleymaniyah
Election rally
Student in Suleymaniyah meets UCL
Students meet UCL
Election rally
University of Aberdeen
Election rally
Students meet Exeter University
Student in Suleymaniyah
Student in Suleymaniyah
David Mitchell, Hugh Evans (UK Consul General) Dana Ibrahim (UKTI), Dr Beriwan Khailany (KRG MoHE)
Student in Erbil
Good morning Kurdistan
Student in Suleymaniyah
UK Border Agency presentation
Students in Suleymaniyah
Students in Erbil meet Birmingham University
David Mitchell, Dr Saeed (Salahaddin University)
Students in Suleymaniyah meet Heriot Watt University
Students in Erbil meet UCL
Students in Suleymaniyah meet Manchester University
Election rally
Student in Erbil meets University of Warwick
Students in Suleymaniyah
Local TV interviews, Iraq
Students in Erbil
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UK Education Tour provides the only UK-focussed exhibitions in Turkey
A strong desire to study abroad among Turkey’s growing number of young people makes the country a prime location for international student recruitment, a study suggests.
Some 95 per cent of Turkish students surveyed by the British Council’s Education Intelligence research service say they want to study overseas, with the UK and the US the most desirable destinations.
Ninety-six per cent of the 4,816 students polled in all 81 Turkish provinces think overseas education will help them to secure professional jobs, says the report, The Importance of International Education: A Perspective from Turkish Students, published on 12 September.
There were about 3.5 million students enrolled in tertiary education courses in Turkey in 2010, but a great deal of demand remains unmet, says the report, which was launched at the European Association for International Education’s annual conference, held in Istanbul from 10 to 13 September.
Only 530,000 of the 1.8 million pupils who sat the country’s university entrance exam, known as the YGS, gained places at domestic institutions, the report says. While 86 per cent of the students surveyed by the British Council cite cost as the greatest barrier to overseas study, the report says that tuition fees at Turkey’s 71 private universities often exceed those levied by Western European and American institutions.
Students not offered state-funded places at home show increased interest in studying abroad, the report adds.
Elizabeth Shepherd, Education Intelligence’s research director and author of the report, said that many UK and US universities were overlooking Turkey as a market for international students despite its growing affluence and soaring numbers of young people.
“There is not a great deal of awareness about the potential of Turkey, but there will be soon,” Ms Shepherd said. “There is a real opportunity for Turkish students to go abroad…and many of them think it is important to get an international education.”
Affordable
Turkey has a greater proportion of young people than any European Union member population (43 per cent are aged 24 or under) and overseas universities may be an option for many of those wishing to enter higher education in the decades to come, the report says.
With its demographic advantages and healthy economic indicators, an increasing number of Turks “of relevant age can afford to pay for education, either directly or indirectly via their families”.
“The…increased personal disposable income of the growing middle class could mean overseas study [becomes] more affordable for more students,” the report adds.
However, this may benefit Germany more than the UK. In the former, overseas student tuition fees and living costs are about a fifth of those in the latter (£4,020 a year on average compared with £19,450, according to an HSBC report published last month).
Germany’s large Turkish diaspora has also made the country an attractive destination for young Turks, who often move there to apply for university. About 28,500 Turks were studying in Germany in 2012, compared with fewer than 4,000 in the UK and about 12,000 in the US, the report adds.
Nevertheless, the UK and the US are the joint favourite destinations for overseas study, the survey finds, with 30 per cent of respondents placing them top of the list, compared with 8 per cent who favour Germany and 4 per cent who prefer Canada.
Twenty-six per cent of those who favour the UK say that learning in English is their primary rationale, but only about 5 per cent state that study in the country would aid their employment prospects.
Germany, which has recently liberalised its post-study employment restrictions, is seen as the most attractive destination for getting a job, with 17 per cent listing employment as their top reason for studying there.
However, the academic reputation of British universities appears to be the highest among respondents, with 63 per cent citing it as the most compelling reason for studying there, compared with 62 per cent for Germany and 53 per cent for the US.
“Students in Turkey see an overseas university education as a way to achieve greater individual success, and education as a whole as the way for the entire country to move forward,” Ms Shepherd said.
Levant Education is due to make an important announcement regarding UK Education Tour in Turkey.
The announcement will ensure that UK Education Tour continues to offer the best option for reaching UK-focussed students in Turkey, and will establish the biggest ever marketing budget dedicated to promoting education in the UK in Turkey.
UK Education Tour Exhibitors: Please complete the form below according to the details in your passport, and we will send your visa invitation letter by email within 3 working days.
As well as the Invitation letter, you will need the following documents for your visa application:
– Original, signed United Kingdom passport with at least 6 months of remaining validity.
– 2 Passport-type photographs
– Copy of round trip tickets & confirmed itinerary.
– Accommodation information / confirmation
UK Education Tour returned to Turkey in April for an intensive weekend of events in Istanbul and Ankara.
The event coincided with the first sunny weekend of the year, ensuring that the students attending were high calibre, serious enquirers about studying in the UK. This event was the first to feature private interviews, where students booked slots for 1-to-1 sessions with UK university officers.
Raif Courage, UKTI Turkey
We also added value to this Spring’s event by adding school visits as part of the Tour, with visits to Robert College, MEF and TED Colleges, which were well received by university counsellors and students.
The UK Education Tour is successfully promoting UK education as a high quality, high value option for discerning students looking abroad for university and language education. In an exhibition obsessed market, UK Education Tour is the only UK-only, high-end event that limits participation and is organised independently. This year we were supported by UKTI in Turkey to increase the reach and effectiveness of marketing.
“If you want to see hoards of people coming through the door, then the UKET fairs are probably not for you. If however you want to meet focused, qualified students in premier venues, then the UKET fairs should be your first choice when considering your marketing activities in Turkey”. David Thornber, Durham University (Turkey & Azerbaijan, November 2012).
“UKET provide the best events I have ever attended, consistently attracting the best students and boosting interest in UK education”.
Claire Taylor, Nottingham University.
Thank you for attending the UK Education Tour in Kurdish Iraq!
The event has been built on feedback and support from UK universities, and we appreciate your input as it helps us create better platforms for UK education recruitment.
Thanks for your time, any requests or specific feedback will responded to shortly.
UK Universities returned to Erbil and Sulaimaniyah in April for the UK Education Tour, meeting potential future HCDP scholarship students, Iraq scholarship students, faculty from local universities and Kurdish Regional Government officials.
“Very worthwhile, well targeted and good fun”
Joanne Jacobs, University of Manchester.
The demand for International Higher Education is driven by regional and national scholarship programmes that aim to rebuild Iraqi Higher Education after years of isolation and war. Scholarships aim to send students all over the world for this project, although the UK is by far the most sought after destination for students from Kurdistan.
Exhibitors reported excellent levels of interest from students and faculty, and appreciated the participation of both UK and KRG officials. UKET continues to act as a platform for lobbying the Kurdish Regional Government to maintain a full list of UK universities on the ‘recommended’ institution list published on the KRG HCDP website.
UK University meeting with Ministry of Higher Education
Exhibitor feedback is still coming in. Joanne Jacobs (University of Manchester) wrote, “I thought it was very worthwhile, well targeted and good fun!”
Kathryn Land from the University of Portsmouth commented, “It was a great success and all went smoothly – unusual for the Middle East!!”
