Professor Sari Hamdan among Jordanian Higher Education Delegation Participating in Meeting with Prime Minister of Kurdistan Region-Iraq

AAU, represented by our President, Prof. Sari Hamdan, participated in the Jordanian Higher Education delegation that met with the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region-Iraq, Mr. Masrour Barzani, on Sunday, May 5, 2024, following the opening of the Jordanian-Kurdistan Higher Education Forum 2024. The forum's proceedings commenced in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region-Iraq, under the theme "Shaping the Future through Sustainable Development," organized by the Jordanian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in coordination with the Kurdistan Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, as well as the Tourism Promotion Authority and the Consulate General of Jordan in Erbil. Prof. Sari Hamdan stated that this forum represents a valuable opportunity for cooperation, knowledge exchange, and sharing experiences with participating universities. He emphasized that this participation reflects AAU's commitment to expanding cooperation and constructive partnerships with various universities, enhancing its position as a leading academic institution contributing to research and education development locally and internationally. During the meeting, both sides expressed the depth of relations between Jordan and the Kurdistan Region-Iraq, affirming their mutual desire to develop these relations, especially in the field of higher education and scientific research. The delegation participating in the forum, led by the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Prof. Mamoun Al-Dab'i, also included the President of the Higher Education Accreditation and Quality Assurance Commission, Prof. Thafir Al-Saraireh, the President of the University of Jordan, Prof. Natheer Ubaidat, and our President, Prof. Sari Hamdan. They were joined by several heads of Jordanian government and private universities. A total of 21 Jordanian higher education institutions are participating in this forum, along with members of the Committee for Attracting Foreign Students appointed by the Higher Education Council, and the Jordanian Consul General in Erbil, Mr. Fuad Al-Majali. It is worth noting that Prime Minister Masrour Barzani of the Kurdistan Region-Iraq stated in his opening speech at the four-day forum, which runs from May 5-8, 2024: "It is a pleasure to have longstanding friendly relations with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah II, who has always stood by and supported Kurdistan at various stages." He further stated: "Advancing our educational and academic institutions and promoting them is one of our top priorities. We strive to make our universities and academic centers keep pace with rapid modernization, contributing to the prosperity of our economic infrastructure." During the opening ceremony, Dr. Mamoun Al-Dab'i, head of the Jordanian delegation, said: "Jordanian universities, some of which are boldly taking the path to global recognition, firmly believe in the necessity of openness to others. Here, we find that Kurdistan universities are poised to be key partners to our Jordanian universities, opening wide avenues for cooperation and partnership based on respect and mutual interests." The forum includes several panel discussions throughout its days, with participation from university presidents, experts, and professors from Jordanian universities in various scientific and research fields, alongside field visits to several Kurdistan universities. These activities aim to network between Jordanian and Kurdistan universities, signing memoranda of understanding for cooperation in higher education and scientific research. This forum is organized within the framework of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research's implementation plan for the strategy to attract foreign students to study in Jordanian higher education institutions for the years 2023-2027.