Professor Hamid Khalaf Ahmed, Advisor to the Prime Minister of Iraq and Executive Director of the Higher Committee for Education Development In Iraq (HCEDI) and the University of Liverpool's Professor Tariq Ali have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the University of Liverpool and HCEDI.
The MoU will facilitate collaboration between the University of Liverpool and HCEDI, as well as enhancing the University's relationships with higher education institutions in Iraq.
The Government of Iraq has made a significant investment in scholarships to facilitate postgraduate training for Iraqi academic staff, and it is hoped that Iraqi researchers will train in Liverpool as a result of the collaboration plans.
The signing took place during the Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani's trip to London this week, a visit which also saw him meet with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, where the two signed a landmark Partnership & Cooperation Agreement, a wide-ranging treaty on trade and strategic cooperation.
Professor Tariq Ali, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Global Engagement and Partnerships at the University of Liverpool said: "I am delighted to sign this agreement which will strengthen our collaborations in Iraq. The University of Liverpool already works with partners in Iraq including Al-Qadisiyah University, the University of Baghdad and the University of Mosul. This new MoU sets out the basis on which we can grow the breadth and depth of our collaborations for education and research. I also look forward to welcoming future students and researchers from Iraq to Liverpool."
The University of Liverpool is a member of the Iraq Britain Business Council, and Professor Ali's visit to London also saw him attend a Business Reception held by the Council, at the Institution of Civil Engineers.