Professor Dr. Edrees Mohammed Tahir Herki, Rector of Erbil Polytechnic University, welcomed a delegation from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), headed by Prem Sagarasi, ICRC Project Manager, and his team.
The meeting was attended by Dr. Mohammed Hussein, Head of the Supervision and Quality Assurance Authority at the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Assist. Prof. Dr. Botan Majid Asangar, Assistant Rector for Scientific Affairs and Higher Education, Dr. Murad Amir Ahmed, Acting Dean of the Technical Health and Medical College, Dr. Zakra Ali, Head of the Prosthetics and Orthotics Department, Assist. Prof. Dr. Abdullah Omar Yasin, Director of International Relations, Mr. Behzad Hilmi, Director of the Rector’s Office, and Avin Yasin Mohammed and Chya Miqdad Ali from the ICRC staff.
After welcoming the guests, the Rector talked about the importance of the Prosthetics and Orthotics Department in serving the community. He stated that the department admitted students in 2020 with the support of the ICRC and continued its activities successfully, which helped it gain international trust.
The Rector also stated that the graduates of this department served all parts of Iraq, not only the Kurdistan Region. He added that this was a source of pride for the Kurdistan Region, the university, and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, as the university reached a scientific level that enabled it to admit students from all Iraqi provinces to this department.
Later, the participants expressed their views on the importance of this department for the Kurdistan Region, Iraq, and the wider region. They emphasized the need for all parties to work together to ensure the continuation of the educational process in this department.
Lecturer Raybin Star Osman, a lecturer at the Technical Health and Medical College of our university, participated in a training course on Data Analysis entitled “Certificate Course in Data Analytics Using Python.” The course was held at the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing in New Delhi, the capital of India.
It is worth mentioning that this program was supervised by the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology of India. Participants from different countries attended the program. The course lasted for two weeks, and at the end of the course, Lecturer Raybin received a certificate and an award of appreciation.
On Monday, 1 June 2026, Assistant Professor Dr. Talib Mohammed Sharif Omer, the Dean of Mergasor Technical Institute, accompanied by Assistant Professor Dr. Jassim Mohammed Abdo, the Vice President of the University of Zakho for Scientific Affairs and Higher Education, alongside a delegation from the Consulate General of the United States in Erbil, visited the Embassy of the Republic of Iraq in Washington, D.C. The delegation was warmly received by Dr. Duraid Mohammed Ali, the Deputy Ambassador.
During the meeting, both parties emphasized the strengthening of academic coordination and the establishment of institutional relations with American universities and academic bodies. The discussions focused on leveraging institutional expertise, facilitating student and faculty exchange programs, fostering cultural dialogue, and maximizing future opportunities to benefit students in the Kurdistan Region.
In subsequent bilateral meetings with the Department of Cultural and Academic Relations, deliberations centered on expanding opportunities for student mobility and exchanges, promoting pedagogical diversity, and developing mechanisms to establish collaborative pathways between domestic and global universities.
On Wednesday, 3 June 2026, Assistant Professor Dr. Talib Mohammed-Sharif Omer, Dean of Mergasor Technical Institute, met with representatives from Porterville College in Los Angeles, California. Dr. Omer was received by Dr. Thad Russell, Vice President of Porterville College, and Professor Dr. Elissa Queenan, a faculty member at the college. Porterville College shares a formal sister-institution partnership with Mergasor Technical Institute.
Following a session aimed at expanding academic collaboration and institutional ties, both sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to advancing international education and enhancing scientific cooperation. The Vice President for Scientific Affairs and Higher Education at the University of Zakho also attended the meeting, where the leadership mutually agreed to launch several collaborative academic initiatives with the University of Zakho in the near future.
Porterville College maintains a well-established history under this sister-institution partnership with Mergasor Technical Institute and Erbil Polytechnic University. The institutions have previously collaborated on various academic projects, capacity-building workshops, specialized programs, and symposia. Representatives from Porterville College have also previously conducted official visits to Erbil Polytechnic University, Mergasor Technical Institute, and the Barzan Region.
The discussions concluded after addressing several key strategic areas, including joint research projects, student exchange frameworks, faculty professional development, and the promotion of intercultural diversity. Following the meeting, the Dean and the Vice President of the University of Zakho were hosted by the Porterville College delegation for an institutional reception and a cultural tour of the city.
