On Thursday, the 17th of August, 2023, a meeting was held at the University Presidency regarding the educational situation and continuity of education and admission of students in the Orthotics and Prosthetics Department in the Erbil Technical Health and Medicine College.
The meeting was held between the Erbil Polytechnic University and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) supervised by Asst. Prof. Dr. Mohammed Kalari, the Representative of the Ministry of the Higher Education and Scientific Research of the Kurdistan Region. Our university delegation included the Vice Rector for Scientific Affairs and Higher Education and the Head of the Orthotics and Prosthetics Department and the International Committee of the Red Cross delegation consisted of Mr. Tigran Betanian, the Director of the Physical Rehabilitation in ICRC Program in Baghdad and Mr. Yan Libeck, the Director of Partnerships at the organization.
It is worth mentioning that Prof. Dr. Edrees Muhamad Tahir Harki, the Rector of the Erbil Polytechnic University, welcomed the guests and expressed his full support for the success and development of the Orthotics and Prosthetics Department.
The following points were discussed in the meeting and appropriate suggestions were made about the department such as:
1. The International Committee of the Red Cross will continue to provide financial, technical and moral support until the end of 2026 for both the first and second rounds of students admission.
2- Providing budget for 2 foreign academic staff to teach both bachelor’s and master’s degrees by the International Committee of the Red Cross at 75% and the Erbil Polytechnic University at 25%.
3- For the admission of students in the third round, i.e. for the academic year 2024-2025, all partners must cooperate and collaborate with the Erbil Polytechnic University for the success of this program.
4- The International Red Cross and Erbil Polytechnic University are trying to find sponsors for this program, especially for the third and subsequent rounds.
5. Efforts should be made to obtain academic accreditation for this department by international institutions specialized in accrediting academic programs as soon as possible to enable this department accept foreign students.
6. Continue to open higher education study for this department to provide local academic staff.
At the end of the meeting, the representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross expressed their full support for the success of this program.
