The American University of Iraq-Baghdad (AUIB) and the University of Exeter (Exeter) signed a Memorandum of Understanding laying out the basis for exploring future cooperative initiatives that serve “promoting and furthering education and research in England and Iraq” in an array of academic fields.
The MoU envisages “potential collaboration on projects and research, to include jointly hosted symposia and lectures, and joint research projects” in fields such as Medical and Health Sciences, Climate Science, Environment and Sustainability, Engineering, Diplomacy and Public Policy, Arab and Islamic Studies, Digital and Data Sciences, Computer Sciences, Social Sciences and Education. The document also cites possible cooperation in curriculum development, as well as Study Abroad programs and the exchange of faculty, students, academic resources and knowledge, including in areas such as teaching models for e-learning and distance education.
AUIB President, Dr. Michael Mulnix, and Pro-Vice Chancellor and Executive Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences at Exeter, Prof. Gareth Stansfield, signed the MoU at a ceremony held on AUIB campus, attended by Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Dr. Haidar Abed Dahd, and Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Higher Education, Dr. Muzahem Al-Khayyat, in addition to senior members of AUIB faculty and staff.
“We are developing a close and synergistic relationship and, in particular, are hoping for a partnership and perhaps one day joint programs in (Exeter’s) prestigious and highly ranked Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies,” remarked President Mulnix, highlighting Exeter’s standing as “a member of the Russell Group of UK universities,” that are “world-class research-intensive universities that include Oxford (and) Cambridge.”