In July 2023, a delegation from the Board of Governors of the University of Kurdistan Hewlêr (UKH) chaired by Mr. Marshall Billingslea held a series of meetings with prominent institutions and figures in the United States of America (US).
The delegation visited the University of South Florida (USF) and was received by General Frank Mckenzie, the Executive Director of USF’s Global and National Security Institute and the Center for Cybersecurity.
The two parties discussed topics of mutual interest, such as peacebuilding through partnerships and cooperation opportunities, exchange programmes, conferences and other academic events.
UKH has been broadening it’s international networking and engagement recently in the Middle East and Europe. The outcomes of the recent meetings in the US will bridge the gaps between higher education in the Kurdistan Region, Iraq and the US. Especially as meetings in USF included bringing together teachers to discuss climate change and study abroad opportunities for students.
The delegation landed in Washington DC in the end of July to meet with Institute of International Education (IIE), American Councils for International Education, the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) and the US Department of State.
At the State Department, the UKH delegation met Mr. Gregory Sullivan, Senior Advisor to the U.S. Department of State for Iraq Public Diplomacy. Areas of mutual cooperation and networking with US universities and cooperation between academic institutions in areas such as climate change and environment were discussed in details.
The delegation also held important meetings with the International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX) and the Heritage Foundation before concluding their visit to the US.
