The American University of Iraq-Baghdad (AUIB) and the Iraq Energy Institute (IEI) celebrated the opening of the latter’s offices on the AUIB campus, and the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, outlining a general framework of the two institutions’ collaboration on delivering common goals. According to AUIB President Dr. Michael Mulnix, “These goals are related not only to educational development in Iraq, by means of joining efforts in research and training in the field of energy, but also supporting the formulation of vital policy recommendations for reforming the country’s economy, and to better prepare young leaders to build successful public and private sectors. We are excited about the possibilities this partnership will have for the people of Iraq.”
“This joint research will improve AUIB’s ranking while setting a high standard for local universities to improve their position in the competencies of energy, economy, environment and related technologies, and to secure a sustainable future for Iraq,” said President Mulnix.
The Iraq Energy Institute, is a non-profit research organization with a focus on economic reform, energy and sustainable development. According to Dr. Gareth Stansfield, Honorary President of IEI and Pro-Vice-Chancellor at the University of Exeter in the UK, “IEI has published numerous publications, run many workshops, and founded the Iraq Energy Forum in Baghdad,” he said. “Over the past decade and a half,” he continued, “IEI fellows, researchers and fora participants have contributed to the evolution of the Iraqi energy sector, including the executive and legislative institutions, as well as the private sector.” Prof. Stansfield further added that the doubling of Iraq’s gas utilization, tripling of oil production, and the more than quadrupling of power generation, all in less than 15 years, is partly the result of IEI’s contributions. Stansfield saw that the mission of IEI and AUIB was to support the new government of Iraq in its effort on energy sector reform, as well as to support the new parliament in passing key federal legislation, “to serve a vibrant energy sector,” he concluded.
The 6th Iraq Energy Forum will be jointly hosted by IEI and AUIB at the AUIB campus, in cooperation with multinational institutions, including the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), announced Stansfield. The timing of the event, in the expected presence of OPEC’s Secretary General, would mark Iraq’s 60th anniversary of the co-founding of OPEC in Baghdad.
IEI’s motto is to “Energize Iraq,” or “Energize Iraqis to Move Forward” in all aspects of life, said Sheikh Adnan Al Janabi, Deputy Chairman of IEI and an esteemed Iraqi economist and politician.
Sheikh Al Janabi, citing Iraq’s great need for cooperation among research institutes, civil society, and universities in Iraq and abroad, especially the high-ranking universities of the United States.
The American University of Iraq – Baghdad is a non-profit university founded in 2018. It currently has eight colleges.