More students from Iraq will be calling Armidale home for a few years after the University of New England and the Republic of Iraq signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Sydney last week.
The MOU paves the way for students to study at UNE under an Iraqi Government-funded inter-national scholarship program for PhD candidates.
At the signing ceremony for the agreement in Sydney, Parliamentary Secretary for Higher Education and Skills, Sharon Bird, said she looked forward to productive work coming from increased collaboration between Australian institutions and the Republic of Iraq.
UNE Chancellor Richard Torbay, Vice-Chancellor Jim Barber and Pro Vice-Chancellor, Educational Innovation and International, Dr Michael Crock, attended the ceremony with the Iraqi Director General of Scholarships and Cultural Affairs, Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Scholarships, Dr Bahaa Kazem.
Mr Torbay said the agreement further enhanced opportunities for Iraqi students to study at UNE.
“We currently have 11 students from Iraq on campus and we look forward to welcoming more students from Iraq under this agreement,” he said.
“To date, there has been a strong interest in Agriculture courses from Iraqi students and we expect that to continue.”
Vice-Chancellor Jim Barber said international students bring a richness and diversity to campus, which enhances the experience for all students.
“UNE is going against the trend of other universities, with our international enrolments continuing to increase year on year,” Professor Barber said.
“We welcome today’s agreement with Iraq and look forward to a long-term relationship with their country’s higher education sector.”
The University of Wollongong also signed an agreement with the Republic of Iraq at the ceremony.
