Today, Tuesday, the 6th of August, 2024, in the presence of Dr. Aram Mohammed Qadir, the Minister of the Higher Education and Scientific Research, Mr. Mark Straw, the General Consul of the United States in the Kurdistan Region, Prof. Dr. Edrees Muhamad Tahir Harki, the Rector of the Erbil Polytechnic University, the Rectors of Sulaimani and Duhok Polytechnic Universities, the Vice Rectors for the Administrative and Financial Affairs and the Scientific and Higher Education Affairs, and several university council members, faculty, and guests, the laboratories of Cisco Academy for American Technology Development were opened in a ceremony at the first campus of the Erbil Polytechnic University.
At the Beginning, the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research delivered a speech. He said: “I am pleased to participate in the announcement ceremony of the project (American Technology Development) in the three polytechnic universities (Erbil, Sulaimani, and Duhok. He also said: “This project is dedicated to provide the US Cisco technology in the field of networking and cyber security for computer laboratories in the three polytechnic universities of Erbil, Sulaimani and Duhok.
In another part of his speech; Dr. Aram Mohammed Qadir spoke about the importance of implementing the project and said: “This project will have a great impact on the process of education and practical training in the field of networking and cyber security Domestic and international job opportunities can be obtained, because all the skills taught in these laboratories are the current needs of the Kurdistan, regional and global labor market.
At the end of his speech; The Minister of the Higher Education and Scientific Research thanked the US Government and people, IREX and the US General Consulate in the Kurdistan Region for their continuous assistance to the ministries and universities.
Then, Mr. Mark Straw, the US General Consul in the Kurdistan Region, delivered a speech in which he said: “The opening of these laboratories in these three universities is a testament to your commitment as academic leaders in creating the best learning environment for your students They have worked hard to implement this project.
The US General Consul in the Kurdistan Region said that Cisco Laboratories for US Technology Development in the Kurdistan Region will provide advanced US technology to the next generation of Kurdish IT professionals and help them learn valuable computer skills and be more competitive in the global labor market We will also provide training for teachers.
Later, the laboratory of Cisco Academy for American Technology Development at the Erbil Polytechnic University was opened by Dr. Aram Mohammed Qadir, the Minister of the Higher Education and Scientific Research and Mark Straw, the General Consul General of the United States in the Kurdistan Region The laboratories were opened.
Cisco Academy Laboratories for Promoting American Technology in Iraqi Kurdistan Region with the financial support of the US Government in the amount of $ 1.4 million by USAID in three (Erbil Polytechnic University, Sulaimani Polytechnic). and Duhok Polytechnic) has been implemented, which consists of the construction of (9) nine scientific laboratories with the latest scientific equipment in the field of communication for the three polytechnic universities of the Kurdistan Region ) and (IT) and (networking) so that they can use the laboratories scientifically for educational purposes.
The implementation of the project will be an important part of the higher education process to award academic certificates in the field of (Cyber Security) and US technology in the Kurdistan Region, which will provide both public and private sectors Both the public and private sectors will be able to prepare skilled workers in line with the needs of the labor market, because the laboratories are built with the most advanced laboratories in the region.
