On Monday, 1/6/2026, the honorable Dean of Mergasor Technical Institute, (Asst. Prof. Dr. Talib Mohamed Sharif Omar), Dean of Mergasor Technical Institute, accompanied by (Asst. Prof. Dr. Jassim Mohamed Abdo), Vice President of the University of Zakho for Scientific Affairs and Higher Education, as well as a team from the US General Consul in Erbil, visited the Iraqi Embassy in Washington, and they were very warmly welcomed by Dr. Duraid Mohamed Ali, the Deputy Ambassador.
In a meeting, emphasis was placed on coordination to establish academic relations with universities and academic institutions of that country to benefit from the universities, student and teacher exchanges, and cultural exchanges, as well as the opportunities that arise to benefit the students of Kurdistan.
Then, in two separate meetings with the department of culture and cultural and academic relations, highlights were made on the opportunities that arise for students and their exchanges, and paying attention to diversity in teaching, as well as how to build bridge relations between the universities of the world.
On Wednesday, June 3, 2026, in the city of Los Angeles, California, the honorable Asst. Prof. Dr. Talib Mohamed Sharif Omar, Dean of Mergasor Technical Institute, visited the Porterville College team and was welcomed by Mr. Thad Russell, Vice President of Porterville College, and Alisa Kenyon, a professor at Porterville College. This comes at a time when Porterville College is a sister institution to Mergasor Technical Institute in California.
Following a meeting aimed at efforts to strengthen and expand academic cooperation and advance relations between the two academic institutions, they reaffirmed their joint commitment to advancing international education and mutual scientific and academic understanding. During the meeting, which was also attended by the Vice President of the University of Zakho, it was decided to conduct several joint academic works with the University of Zakho in the future.
It is worth mentioning that Porterville College has previously conducted several academic projects, training sessions, special programs, training courses, workshops, and symposia with Mergasor Technical Institute and Erbil Polytechnic University, and they have previously visited Erbil Polytechnic University, Mergasor Technical Institute, and the Barzan region.
Furthermore, after discussing several topics in the fields of joint projects, student exchange, teacher training, and strengthening diversity across different cultures, the Institute Dean and the Vice President of the University of Zakho were hosted by the Porterville College team, and a tour around the city was organized for them.
On Monday, 1/6/2026, the honorable Dean of Mergasor Technical Institute, (Asst. Prof. Dr. Talib Mohamed Sharif Omar), Dean of Mergasor Technical Institute, accompanied by (Asst. Prof. Dr. Jassim Mohamed Abdo), Vice President of the University of Zakho for Scientific Affairs and Higher Education, and a team from the US General Consul in Erbil, visited the Kurdistan Regional Government Representation in Washington, and they were very warmly welcomed by the representation staff.
In a meeting, emphasis was placed on coordination to establish academic relations with universities and academic institutions of that country to benefit from the universities, student and teacher exchanges, and cultural exchanges, as well as the opportunities that arise to benefit the students of Kurdistan.
The KRG representation staff expressed their happiness for any cooperation and coordination that serves the state of science and the universities of the Kurdistan Region.
On Tuesday, May 26, 2026, Asst. Prof. Dr. Talib Mohamed Sharif Omar, Dean of Mergasor Technical Institute, as a representative of Erbil Polytechnic University and along with representatives from a number of other universities in the Kurdistan Region, participated in the annual conference and exhibition of the National Association of International Educators (NAFSA 2026). The conference was held under the title “Global by Design” in the state of Florida, USA.
During the event, Asst. Prof. Dr. Talib Mohamed Sharif presented a topic on “Implementing Diversity in Education and its Impact on Learning in Kurdistan.” On the sidelines of the conference, several academic relations were established and memoranda of understanding were signed with higher education institutions, aiming to serve students and teachers. Also, the Kurdistan delegation conducted a number of meetings with the participating delegations and presented the state of education and higher education of the Kurdistan Region to the attendees.
The NAFSA annual conference and exhibition is the largest global gathering dedicated to international education and exchange, bringing together thousands of experts and specialists from different fields. It is worth mentioning that the conference continued for four days, starting on May 26 and ending on May 29.
For this year, approximately eight thousand people from different countries of the world were invited to this conference, which is considered one of the most influential conferences. In it, importance is given to the main axes of the goals of education, higher education, joint work, linking education to economic development, social justice, and humanity. At the same time, it creates a continuous opportunity for learners across the world, and attendees can discuss, share their experiences, and search for effective strategies and best practices.
Participants of the NAFSA 2026 exhibition benefit from various sessions designed by international education experts, which include the main trends of professional development, advocating for social justice, and inclusivity.
It is worth noting that the Association of International Educators is the largest non-profit organization in the world dedicated to international education and exchange. This organization was founded in 1948, and its mission includes advancing learning, facilitating understanding and respect among professionals, and developing talented individuals at a global level.
The main goals of the association are: advancing learning and research through providing resources and support programs for international education, developing understanding and respect among experts, and raising talented individuals who have the ability to solve global challenges.
