International Research Capacity Building

This Workshop Aims To:

•Strengthen the research quality and capacity of universities in Iraq and the Kurdistan region, toward establishing a solid research culture that supports research leadership, grant application and research development.
•Provide insight into British universities’ research activities, facilities and organisational structures.
•Build research networks, share skills in grantsmanship, and expand collaboration between universities in the UK, Kurdistan, and the rest of Iraq.
•Increase the impact of research to support social and economic development in Kurdistan region and the rest of Iraq.
•Support quality research production to enhance Iraqi and Kurdistan universities’ rankings internationally.
•Develop a road-map for the Kurdistan Research and Development Council.

About Erbil

Erbil, also spelt Arbil (Kurdish: ھەولێر / Hewlêr‎), locally called Hawler by the Kurds, is the capital city of Iraqi Kurdistan and the most populated city in the Kurdish inhabited areas. It is located approximately in the center of Iraqi Kurdistan region and north of Iraq. It has about 850,000 inhabitants, and Erbil governorate has a permanent population of 2,009,367 as of 2015.

Human settlement at Erbil can be dated back to possibly 5th millennium BC, and it is one of the oldest continuously inhabited areas in the world. At the heart of the city is the ancient Citadel of Erbil. The earliest historical reference to the region dates to the Third Dynasty of Ur of Sumer, when King Shulgi mentioned the city of Urbilum. The city was later conquered by the Assyrians.

Workshop Objectives

Empower participants with essential skills, knowledge, and resources to elevate the higher education sector in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq. Facilitate international collaborations, strengthen research quality, and establish long-term partnerships with over 10 UK universities. Focus on securing both international and local funding for research projects, providing insights into grant management, and emphasizing the pivotal role of research and development in fostering a knowledge-based economy. Ultimately, contribute to the modernization and global integration of higher education in the region.