We are delighted to be holding a R&D workshop from 1-4 June to support the establishment of our first R&D board within the Ministry of Education in Kurdistan. With the invaluable support of colleagues from ten UK universities, we are aiming  to create a highly influential board that will drive impactful research, fostering societal and economic advancements.

Our ultimate goal is to lay the foundation for transitioning our economy from an oil-based model to a knowledge-based one. Additionally, we aspire to establish a sustainable bridge between universities in the UK, Kurdistan, and Iraq. This collaboration will enhance our research capabilities and foster a robust academic network across these regions.

The organising committee included from the University of Glasgow, Professor Michael Osborne, Director of CR&DALL and of the PASCAL Observatory in Europe, and Mary Ryan, International Development Research Manager, and built on an earlier visit in 2023 at the University of Duhok (an associate partner of PASCAL) funded under the Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility Programme that focused on the civic engagement role of universities in line with one of PASCAL's core foci. The University of Glasgow speakers during the event are:

Professor Michael Osborne - Developing a Research Culture (Sunday 2 June)

Ms Mary Ryan - Developing Strong Research Proposals (Monday 3 June)

Professor Claudia Gatz - Searching for Research grants (Monday 3 June)

We are delighted to be able to continue our work with the University of Glasgow and look for more connections in the future.