Changing Conditions NAFSA 2015 Lorna Middlebrough Education - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Recruiting in Iraq: Adapting to Changing Conditions NAFSA 2015 Lorna Middlebrough Education Specialist for Iraq, U.S. Department of State, OBXtek Support Contractor Dr. Tahani Al Sandook Iraqi Cultural Attaché, Iraqi Cultural Office, Embassy of the Republic of Iraq Karwan Zebari, Director of Political and Diplomatic Affairs, Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq Representation to the USA

Goals • Update on changes to scholarship programs and situation in Iraq • Discuss opportunities for recruitment and partnership in a changing landscape

Iraq Update • Security Situation – ISIS presence in Iraq – Effect on higher education in Iraq • 7 universities in ISIL controlled areas • Faculty and students displaced; instruction stopped • Tikrit University at Kirkuk University campus • Rebuilding needed at liberated campuses • Humanitarian Crisis – 2.8 million displaced • Impact on U.S. Government services • Economic Effect

Overview of Iraq • Goal: Rebuilding higher education systems and re- establishing Iraq in the global academic and scientific community • 2 ministries of higher education (Baghdad and Erbil) • 3 Competitive Scholarship Programs for master’s and doctorate degrees, with emphasis on STEM fields; funding for ESL; other opportunities for collaboration • Most students request Conditional Admission • 2014 Open Doors Report – 1,491 Iraqis • Strategic Framework Agreement

Map of Iraq

Scholarship Programs • National Programs (funded by Government of Iraq; open to students in all provinces) – GOI Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MoHESR) – Higher Committee for Education Development (HCED) through Prime Minister’s Office • Regional Program (funded by Kurdistan Regional Government; open to all students in Iraqi Kurdistan Region) – Human Capacity Development Program (HCDP)

Iraqi Ministry of Higher Education International Programs Dr. Tahani Alsandook BDS,Ph.D Cultural Attaché Iraqi Cultural Office Washington DC

International Scholarship Program • Sponsored by the Government of Iraq - Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research to send graduate students abroad, with emphasis on STEM fields. • Program started in 2007; then in 2012, new program to award 10,000 scholarships for Masters and PhD degrees • May 2015 – 329 Scholarship students at U.S. universities

Goals of the Scholarship Program • To increase the exposure of students to modern international standards of research and methodology in all of the sciences and humanities. • To bring students to international standards of achievement and academic research. • To encourage the Iraqi higher education community to improve their skills. • To improve the qualifications and training of academic staff in Iraqi universities to promote academic progress. • To recover from the long academic and scientific isolation of Iraqi higher education .

Scholarship Program - Updates • Monthly Stipend – 30% reduction for student and spouse; elimination of funding for children • Health Insurance – Funded for student, spouse and children; purchase through U.S. university • Tuition, Fees, and Health Insurance – maximum combined of $40,000 per student/ year • ESL students - $14,000/ year maximum; health insurance separate • Extensions: ▫ PhD – Years 1-4 funded; Year 5 unfunded ▫ Masters – 2 years funded • 2015 – Rare Specialties only; small number • 2016 – No Conditional Admission; only for students with high enough TOEFL and GRE test scores • Visas – Prefer F visas

Continued Benefits – no change • Round trip travel to/ from Iraq for student and family (one time) • Conference Attendance • Thesis printing and binding fees

Study Leave Updates • Open to Employees from Ministry of Higher Education and other government ministries • Same benefits as Scholarship Program • MoHESR employees – Rare Specialties only • Other Ministries – all fields of study • Seeking Conditional Admission • Iraqi Cultural Office does not process payments; students pay themselves and seek reimbursement from their ministries • May 2015 – 200 Study Leave students at U.S. universities

Obstacles • Research supervisors not available for PhD students after they complete English Program • University doesn’t offer health insurance for dependents; difficult for students to find on their own • Students don’t know how to use health insurance; need orientation session

Program Rules • Must compete with other applicants from the same province in Iraq. • Not older than 40 years old for masters or 45 years for PhD. • Must sign a contract with his or her sponsor, pledging a bond (collateral) and guarantor. • No overlap between English language and academic programs, except in case of Bridge programs. • One month allowed between the end of the English language program and the start date of the academic program.

Funding for Research Programs limited to high priority specialties at this time. Research Scholarships Program: Growing program for graduate students at Iraqi Universities to do research abroad that cannot be done in Iraq. PhD students eligible for 6 to 12 months of funding; 3 to 4 months of funding for Master’s students. Iraqi academic advisor funded for 1-month visit. Post-Doctoral Research program for the Iraqi Faculty: Up to 12 months of funding for university faculty to do research in high priority fields of study; participants required to publish research project for academic review in Iraq.

The Higher Committee for Education Development (HCED) • Funded by the Government of Iraq through the Office of the Prime Minister • Started 2009; nearly 3000 admitted abroad • STEM + public admin, business, law, economics, education, English, health admin, nursing & TESOL • 1 year ESL plus academic program for masters or PhD • Places students; Conditional Admission; J visas • Follows GOI MoHESR regulations

Program Updates • Monthly Stipends – 30% reduction for student and spouse; elimination of funding for children • Health Insurance – Funded for student, spouse, and 2 children; no change in policy • Tuition and Fees – fully funded; no change in policy • ESL students - $14,000/1 year maximum • Extensions: – PhD – Years 1-4 funded; Year 5 with approval – Masters – Years 1-2 funded; no extensions • 2015 – small number of students allowed to travel • 2016 – plan to send students

By the Numbers • Admitted – US universities 1,239 • Admitted to UK universities 967 • Admitted to Australia 234 • Graduated 315 • Students with Scholarships 2,053 • 2015 Travel 100 • Still looking for admission 1,953

Human Capacity Development Program (HCDP)  Launched in 2010; funded by the Kurdistan Regional Government; students living in Iraqi Kurdistan Region are eligible  Goals:  Train new generation of leaders, scholars, and professionals  Develop human resources to restructure higher education system  Establish university linkages

Scholarship Details  4,300+ scholarships  Students receive monthly awarded stipends for selves and spouse  1,180 graduated  ESL – 6 months in Iraq  218 at U.S. universities; (IELTS 5.0) and 6 months 24 graduated abroad  2-year Masters and 5-  Competitive scholarships year PhD degrees awarded in all fields of including tuition and study fees, health insurance and travel to U.S.

HCDP Update  Current situation – impact on students, universities  KRG is committed to honoring its commitment to students  About 3,000 students abroad  August 2014 - announced delay in funding for monthly stipends, university fees, health insurance, etc.  April 2015 - announced continued delay in funding  No end date anticipated  No new scholarships  749 students in Iraq with scholarships on hold

Retention Strategies • Be familiar with • Fill the Gap updated policies from – Personal resources each program – Work Options - on-campus and off-campus for student • Develop a strategy with and spouse your offices and – On campus resources programs affected, – Research Grant Funding including faculty – Community resources • Communicate regularly – Send family back to Iraq with students • Leave of Absence for students in financial crisis

Recruiting Sponsored Students • EducationUSA Advising Centers in Baghdad and Erbil • Attend EducationUSA University Fairs in Iraq – None in 2015 • U.S. – Iraq Higher Education Conference – None in 2015 • Engage with Lorna, ICO, and KRG Office in DC • Complete Online Survey: www.surveymonkey.com/EducationUSAIraq • Facebook: Friends of Iraqi Higher Education

Recruitment Strategies • HCED – focusing on students to start in 2016; currently working on placement, with conditional admission. • GOI MoHESR Study Leave – looking for placement in all fields of study with conditional admission NOW. • Host Iraqi scholars and faculty – Cost sharing, in-kind contributions

Some Good News… • Government of Iraq and Kurdistan Regional Government commitment • Strong interest from Iraqi faculty and university leadership • English Language Center at HCED Campus with Ball State University • Career Centers (University Linkage Program with IREX) • Small Grants Program (ULP with IREX)