The American University of Iraq-Baghdad (AUIB) welcomed a delegation of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), headed by UNESCO Iraq Representative, Dr. Alexandros Makarigakis. The delegation was welcomed by AUIB President, Dr. Bradley Cook, and members of the University’s academic and administrative cadre, where the two parties discussed prospective collaboration in a broad range of areas, including teacher training and professional development, environmental sustainability, and historical and cultural preservation.
The UNESCO delegation expressed strong appreciation for the work currently underway at AUIB, and both organizations recognized their shared commitment to strengthening Iraq’s educational systems, economic development, and societal resilience. As such, it was agreed that exploring meaningful avenues for further collaboration is mutually beneficial, knowing that AUIB had been awarded the UNESCO Chair on Education for Health and Well-Being in early 2024, currently chaired by Dr. Elizabeth Bishop, Dean of AUIB’s College of International Studies, and co-chaired by Dr. Stephen Robinson, Dean of AUIB’s College of Education and Human Development.
Both UNESCO and AUIB agreed on the value of continuing these conversations through more regular engagements, with the aim of developing more concrete, actionable initiatives that leverage the strengths of both institutions and contribute meaningfully to Iraq’s long-term development goals.
