First EducationUSA Fair in Iraq Attracts More Than 1,000 Students

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More than 1,000 Iraqi students, eager to pursue their graduate studies in the United States, attended the first EducationUSA University Fair in Iraq last week. Students traveled from all across Iraq to meet representatives from 21 U.S. higher education institutions. The fair, sponsored by the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and implemented by the Institute of International Education (IIE), took place in Erbil (Iraqi Kurdistan Region) from October 14-15, 2011. With the goal of increasing the number of Iraqi students at colleges and universities in the United States, this fair provided participating institutions with an opportunity to talk directly with interested students and share with them the programs and academic options available at American campuses.

The participating institutions were: DePaul University, Eastern Washington University, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Michigan State University, Middle Tennessee State University, Missouri State University, Murray State University, Portland State University, Seton Hall University, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Southern New Hampshire University, University of Arizona, University of Arkansas, University of Cincinnati, University of Kansas, University of Kentucky, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, University of New Haven, Utah State University, Valparaiso University, Western Kentucky University, and the Educational Testing Service.

Prior to the fair, IIE, together with the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, and the U.S. Consulate General in Erbil convened a symposium, bringing together the U.S. educators with key Iraqi policymakers. The symposium, "Promoting U.S.-Iraq Academic Cooperation," explored recent developments in higher education in Iraq and opportunities related to graduate education in the United States.

Alexander Laskaris, the Consul General of the United States in Erbil, provided opening remarks and stressed the importance for closer academic cooperation and the need for more Iraqi students to pursue graduate education in the United States. Key government figures from across Iraq participated in the event. Special guests included Kemal Kerkuki, Speaker of the Parliament, Kurdistan Regional Government; Dlawer Al-Adeen, the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research of the Kurdish Region of Iraq; Waleed A. Mahmoud Al-Jawher, Director General of Scholarships Directorate, Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Baghdad; the Deputy Minister of Planning; the mayor of Erbil; several university presidents; and many other dignitaries.

For more information about the fair, please go to:
www.iie.org/Who-We-Are/News-and-Events/Press-Center/Press-Releases/2011/2011-10-18-EducationUSA-University-Fair-Iraq