This week’s briefs

This week’s briefs: I Ir ra aq q W We ee ek C CP PA A M Mi in ni is st tr ry y o of f H Hi ig gh he er r E Ed du uc ca at ti io on n kl ly y U Up pd da at te e H Hi ig gh he er r E Ed du uc ca at ti io on n T Te ea am m C Cu ur rr re en nt t P Po ol li ic ci ie es s a an nd d I In ni it ti ia at ti iv ve es s, , I Is ss su ue e http://www.cpa-iraq.org/ministries/higher_education.html & & 3 3, , S Sa at tu ur rd da ay y, , ensure that the vital needs of all institutions throughout the entire higher educational system are met. S Sc ci ie en nt ti if fi ic c R Re es se ea ar rc ch h 2 2 A Au ug gu us st t 2 20 00 03 3 Budget Approved: After months of effort working closely together with its Iraqi counterparts, the CPA has established administrative control of the Foundations of Technical Education. New Opportunities for Foreign regular operating budgets for the higher MHESR’s New Temporary Offices Study educational institutions for the remainder of the calendar year. We cannot rest easy, however, because the initial 2004 budget is due on August 11. Operating Budgets for the Remainder of the Year As reported last week, we are working closely with the MHESR staff, the Acting President of Iraqi Commission on Informatics, and USAID’s Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI), to refurbish the temporary office for the Iraqi ministry personnel allowing them to relocate to the new temporary office space at the campus of the Iraqi Commission on Informatics in Baghdad. USAID OTI is scheduled to bring in the “Ministry in a Box” kit this week. We plan to have a formal opening ceremony later in August. Invitations to this ceremony will be forthcoming as soon as the precise date and time are set. Critical to the autonomy and effective functioning of higher educational institutions throughout Iraq is ensuring university and institute leaders have access again to reliable operating budgets. Therefore, restoration of operating budgets for the higher educational institutions has been a top priority. The Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MHESR) team is delighted that many weeks of effort, alongside our counterparts in the MHESR, universities, and institutes around the country as well as the CPA Ministry of Finance team, have culminated in the finalization of the operating budget for the remainder of 2003. This is a critical step toward the resumption of normal operations throughout the entire higher educational system. All the universities and the institutions will be able to draw on their accounts starting this week. Please encourage universities in your area to contact MHESR Finance Director General, if they have not done this yet, to ensure the establishment of the specific mechanisms needed for the rapid and effective transfer of these funds. Next year’s initial budget estimation is due 10 August. Those of you who are working closely with the universities (Civil Affairs teams, CPA regional teams, Coalition forces) are encouraged to assist the universities in this effort. The submission of accurate budget estimates will allow us to expedite the budget process and help University Visits Continue Throughout Central and Southern Regions CPA Higher Education team members Dr. Farouk Darweesh and Dr. Mohammed Al-Najim conducted a tour of universities and technical institutions throughout central and southern Iraq between July 27 and August 1. Universities of Kufa, Diwaniya (Al-l Quadisiya), and Babil Dr. Farouk and his team met with the acting presidents and deans of colleges from respective universities and held progress review meeting to discuss issues regarding final examinations, reconstruction planning, graduate studies admission, faculty development, salary payment and budgets. Technical Institutes Dr. Mohammed Al-Najim accompanied Dr. Mahmood Shakir, President of Foundations of Technical Education, on his tour of the technical institutes. Dr. Shakir is working closely with all technical institutions and he is making it a point to visit all 37 institutions throughout the country under the More opportunities to study abroad are coming in every week. The CPA Ministry of Higher Education team is promoting such opportunities to bring the world closer to the faculty and students of Iraq. To update last week’s mention of Italian scholarship opportunities, over 30 names were submitted to the Italian delegation and we will know shortly who the lucky 10 women are who will have the opportunity to study. To recap, if you recall, Italian delegation in Baghdad is working closely with the Foggia University and Italian National Commission for UNESCO to offer scholarships for female students at Foggia University in the field of Food Sciences and Technology, Tourism Management, and Conservation of Cultural Heritage. The grant amount covers 7000 Euros per year, including all travel, accommodation and living expenses There are also opportunities for travel to Asia. The National Council of Youth Organizations and International Work Camp Organization of South Korea is hosting the International Youth Forum in Seoul. Between 18-24 August, the 14th annual International Youth Forum will be held with a theme of “The Helm of International Society Towards World Peace.” Senior Advisor Meets with National Security Advisor Rice in Washington, D.C. Dr. Andrew Erdmann, CPA Senior Advisor to the MHESR, met with National Security Advisor I Ir ra aq q W We ee ek C CP PA A M Mi in ni is st tr ry y o of f H Hi ig gh he er r E Ed du uc ca at ti io on n kl ly y U Up pd da at te e H Hi ig gh he er r E Ed du uc ca at ti io on n T Te ea am m C Cu ur rr re en nt t P Po ol li ic ci ie es s a an nd d I In ni it ti ia at ti iv ve es s, , I Is ss su ue e http://www.cpa-iraq.org/ministries/higher_education.html Condoleeza Rice this week during his consultations in Washington, D.C. He reviewed with her briefly the situation in Iraqi higher education, stressing the success of the Iraqi scholars and students in completing the academic year. & & S Sc ci ie en nt ti if fi ic c R Re es se ea ar rc ch h 3 3, , S Sa at tu ur rd da ay y, , 2 2 A Au ug gu us st t 2 20 00 03 3 A Star is Born!!! One of our own CPA MHESR team members, Imad Al-Timimi, an interpreter, was interviewed by the Iraqi Media Network about his experiences completing this academic year. Imad is a student in the Mustansiriyah University, College of Arts, where he is studying French. He told the TV audience about his and his colleagues’ appreciation toward Coalition forces and CPA’s commitment to completing this academic year. By the way, Imad also looked great on TV. Events Calendar: August 11 – Advisory Counsel Meeting, Hosted by University of Technology August 10-14 - Curriculum revision seminar on Conflict Resolution in Dohuk by Peace Keeping Institute August 13-14 - Academic Relations and Scientific Affairs Conference between all technical institutes of Iraq, Hosted by Erbil Technology Institute August 14 – CPA Higher Education Team participates in Mosul University Graduation