On Thursday, the 1st of June 2023, Prof. Dr. Edrees Muhamad Tahir Harki, the Rector of the Erbil Polytechnic University received a delegation of the Iraqi Innovation Council – World Creativity & Innovation Week (WCIW )that was consisted of M.Sc. Zanyar Jabbar Rashid, the WCIW Ambassador and a member of the Innovation Council, Abdullah Salih, Shadman Karim, Rezhwan Mohammed, Members of the Innovation Council in Iraq–World Innovation Week, and the Rwanga Foundation President Abdulsalam Madani.
In a meeting where the Vice Rector for Scientific Affairs and Higher Education, the Director of the International Relations Office and the Administrative Director of the university presidency were present, the Rector welcomed the guest delegation and spoke about the university’s strategy and plan. His Excellency said “We as Erbil Polytechnic University have focused on creating academic experts that are needed by the labor market in the Kurdistan Region. This is why, our university is well-prepared to be able to collaborate and support our youth, community, and the Kurdistan students particularly.”
The guest delegation thanked the Rector for well receiving them and their hospitality and expressed their pleasure to work with Erbil Polytechnic University as the first university in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region to jointly work to serve the society in general and Kurdistan youth and students in particular.
During the meeting, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the two sides, which included coordination between the team of Erbil Polytechnic University and World Innovation Week in Iraq by organizing and conducting any activities that encourage creativity and innovation such as: seminars and workshops in Erbil Polytechnic University.
World Creativity and Innovation Day was founded in Toronto, Canada in the 25th of May 2001. The project is now hosted by the University of Miami in the United States. World Innovation Day April 21 was officially recognized by the United Nations in 2017 to celebrate and encourage innovation globally. Events and activities in 160 countries will highlight the importance of innovation in life to address economic and social challenges and encourage economic growth in general.
Prof. Dr. Edrees Muhamad Tahir Harki, the Erbil Polytechnic University Rector stressed on providing equal opportunities, transparency and justice for the higher education study applicants and said that the integrity of the scientific proficiency examinations is a red line and everyone must adhere to it.
During a meeting with the heads of departments of the three Technical colleges: Engineering, Health and Medicine, and Administrative the university Rector stressed that equal opportunities must be provided to all those who have applied for admission to higher education.
The President of Erbil Polytechnic University instructed the participants to carry out the work with the utmost responsibility to consolidate the principles of justice, equality, transparency and impartiality in the implementation of the process.
He said our focus is on taking a great care of the higher education study applicants to provide a favorable environment for their study, learning and education, as well as prevent accountability and injustice. He also stressed that they should avoid violations and illegal interference and outside the guidelines.
Prof. Dr. Edrees Muhamad Tahir Harki also asked the committees to inform the departments and give necessary instructions on how to set questions in such exams.
To closely monitor the examinations, a special committee was formed headed by the Vice Rector for Scientific Affairs and Higher Education to supervise the examinations and decided to conduct the examinations centrally and prepare the halls designated for the exams.
On Wednesday, the 31st of May 2023, in the presence of the Minister of Reconstruction and Housing of the Kurdistan Regional Government Mr. Dana Abdulkarim, president of Tishk International University (TIU), Dr. Abdulsamad Slahuddin, the Erbil Polytechnic University Rector Representative Asst. Prof. Dr. Botan Majid Asinger, the closing ceremony of an engineering course on “Roads and Bridges” was held in Duhok General Directorate of Roads and Reconstruction.
In a ceremony where the Deputies of the Minister of the Reconstruction and Housing, several consultants and general directors of the ministry and a number of government officials were present, the Minister of Reconstruction and Housing delivered a speech. He said: “I am pleased to meet with engineers, teachers and the ministry team in this beloved city to award certificates to the participating engineers. Of course, opening of such courses will influence the development and implementation of service projects.”
The course was supervised by both the Erbil Polytechnic University and Tishk International University, in which 40 engineers of the Ministry participated, and the lessons were taught by teachers of both universities. At the end of the ceremony, graduation certificates were awarded to the engineers and the honorary certificates were awarded to the lecturers.
It is worth mentioning that a three-month course (General Specification of Roads and Bridges) was opened for 70 other engineers of the Ministry of Reconstruction and Housing of the Kurdistan Regional Government in Erbil under the supervision of both Erbil Polytechnic University and Tishk International University.
On Tuesday, the 30th of May 2023, in the presence of the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Dr. Aram Mohammed Qadir, the Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Prof. Dr. Abdulfattah Abdulrazzaq, the Rector of Erbil Polytechnic University Prof. Dr. Edrees Muhamad Tahir Harki,; the General Director of the Ministry’s Diwan Dr. Tawana Najaf, the Head of Aso Regional Committee Mr. Hazhar Osman, and members of the University Council placed the foundation stone of the laboratory building project in the Erbil Technology College.
At the beginning of the ceremony, the University Rector delivered a speech in which he said: “In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful, I warmly welcome you on behalf of the university Council I express my sincere gratitude towards the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Dr. Aram Mohammed Qadir, the Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Prof. Dr. Abdulfattah Abdulrazzaq, the General Director of the Ministry’s Diwan Dr. Tawana Najaf, the Head of Aso Regional Committee Mr. Hazhar Osman for being present in such a delightful day.
Dear ladies and gentlemen, the reason for announcing this project was to create a suitable environment for students to complete their studies. What was available in the Erbil Polytechnic University, especially in this camp, were several halls and laboratories that date back to the 1980s which was not built specifically for study. So, we thought that these laboratories and halls should be replaced with new and modern halls to expand the university.
Dear, what is recently observed, worldwide, is the direction of science students from all over the world towards polytechnic universities because these universities in general around the world can easily adapt to the labor market. Due to this, polytechnic universities constantly need to get expanded especially in the Kurdistan Region, this is why, we call on the Ministry of Higher Education and the Kurdistan Regional Government to pay more attention to polytechnic universities.
I highly express my appreciation to the Ministry of Higher Education for focusing on technical and vocational education in all their meetings with foreign delegations.
What is important to mention is that we have a strategic plan to develop and expand all colleges and institutes affiliated to our university. The construction of this building is part of the plan that consists of three floors, 22 classrooms, 39 administrative rooms and teachers’ offices After reorganizing and reviewing the revenue and reducing the expenditures of the university, we were able to provide this project within a year. In addition to this project, many projects We have done other things on the university’s revenue and we hope to work on it to provide a favorable environment for students in the Erbil Polytechnic University and further develop our university. Thank you very much and welcome again.”
Then, Dr. Aram Mohammed Qadir the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research delivered his statement. “First of all, I would like to thank my brother Prof. Dr. Edrees Harki, the President of the Erbil Polytechnic University, the university council, teachers, employees and students of this university. Today I am happy that the policy of inclusion and not wasting the little revenue available to our universities is blooming here. What we are seeing today is the product of the hard work of the teachers, the council and the policy of the Rector of the university to put the income we have at the service of developing capabilities and campuses and developing laboratory infrastructure.
It is obvious to everyone how the economic situation in the Kurdistan Region is. During the three years of the ninth cabinet, we faced many crises and challenges. Some people did not think that the Ministry of Higher Education and its universities, teachers and employees can get out of the crisis and difficult challenges, so it is appropriate to thank all teachers, employees, councils and presidents of universities Let’s get through the processes and now we have a clearer prospect.
In general, polytechnic universities play an important role in the reform agenda of the Ministry of Higher Education. Polytechnic universities are largely responsible for providing the learning environment, educational opportunities and dormitories. We are pleased that the quality of education in these universities is very good and they can gradually meet the needs of the labor market in the gaps in the labor market in creating the skills that the labor market in Kurdistan needs.
We have always said and repeat again that the ministry, in addition to its academic duties, skills and expertise, has a greater duty to build national intimacy, because our country needs all of us to work faithfully for our youth He spent himself in education to get a job and not be unemployed because of work.
I once again thank my dear brother Prof. Dr. Edrees Harki, the Erbil Polytechnic University Rector, the university council, and the teachers respectively. At the end of my speech, I want to shed light on two effective points:
First point: Recently, the Journal of Erbil Polytechnic University gave me great pleasure that it went to Elsevier, which is one of the biggest goals of our ministry to provide a healthy environment for our research and for our researchers. At Elsevier, most of the evaluators are external. They are excluded from any complaints about the quality of our research. This is a point of pride and praise for the Erbil Polytechnic University. I hope other universities can look at you in this direction. It is with this high level of quality that they provide the right opportunities, environment and conditions for research and journals.
The second point is to bloom this plant, the key fact of our presence here which is the product of securing and reducing expenses. The Erbil Polytechnic University will open 22 scientific halls and laboratories for students that is considered a great achievement. I can say it is a great initiative. I hope other universities will look at this university rewardingly. Once again, I thank this university, its administrative and academic staff, and students. Our ministry will continue to support this university, thank you very much and congratulations to the Erbil Polytechnic University.”
Then the foundation stone of the project was placed by the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, the Minister Deputy, the Rector, and the Diwan General Director of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.
It is worth mentioning that this project consists of three floors, 22 classrooms, laboratories, 39 administrative rooms, teachers’ offices and a large seminar hall. On the revenue of Erbil Polytechnic University at a cost of (947.000.000) Iraqi dinars the projects of the university presidency that have been designed by the engineers of the Engineering and Projects Department of the university presidency and the staff of the department supervised its construction.
