RISE


Full Name: Reinforcing Integration of Skills for Employability and Internationalisation in Kurdistan region of Iraq

Coordinator: UNIMED

Members

Budget: € 399.960,00

Programme: Erasmus+, KA2 – Capacity building in the field of higher education – Strand 1

Project Duration: Start Date: February 1, 2025 - End Date: January 31, 2027

Project No.: 101179468

Principal Investigator: Marcello Scalisi, UNIMED – Mediterranean Universities Union

UNINT Associated Investigator: Luciano Nieddu

Executive Summary

The RISE project is built on two assumptions: the first relates to higher education’s pivotal role in the society, for the creation of responsible citizens from local to global levels, and the second concerns the increasing importance of filling the gap between academia and industry improving the employability rate of graduates nationally and internationally. The Kurdistan region of Iraq has experienced an exacerbated economic, political and social crisis, and is therefore in dire need to develop long-term solutions to tackle unemployment and to support the sustainable growth of the region.

In this context, internationalisation of HEIs and entrepreneurship can synergically contribute to reach this ambitious as well as highly needed achievement. Therefore, RISE project seeks to:

  • Define an integrated and coordinated approach for institutional development, through a synergic roadmap integrating internationalization and employability
  • Enhance skills and competences of university staff through capacity building of educators, administrative staff and students, empowering them to play an active role in the local and global scenarios for institutional and societal sustainable development
  • Increase the attractiveness and international exposure of HEIs, through mobility, networking and strengthening internationalization services
  • Improving the entrepreneurial mindset of students and graduates and reinforcing the relations between academia and industry for a new generation of young entrepreneurs and glocal citizens

The ultimate goal of RISE is to contribute to the sustainable development of the Kurdish society through the reinforcement of the institutional capacity of universities in generating a new class of young leaders, entrepreneurs, scientists, professionals and responsible world citizens, as active players in the global and local scenarios.

Associated partner of the project: Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in KRG (Iraq).

Mission Statement

RISE is dedicated to transforming Kurdish HEIs into engines of social and economic growth. Through an integrated approach to employability and internationalisation, it fosters a new generation of globally aware professionals.

RISE aims to:

  • Create institutional strategies that link employability with internationalisation.
  • Build the skills of university staff and students to drive sustainable development.
  • Enhance global visibility through mobility and networking.
  • Promote entrepreneurship to nurture responsible student leaders.

Objectives

Aligned with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in KRG, RISE:

  • Develops scalable, impactful models for HEIs.
  • Boosts the competitiveness of Kurdish universities locally and internationally.
  • Encourages synergy between employability and internationalisation strategies.

Key Expected Results

  • 7 Internationalisation Roadmaps
  • 7 Career Development Roadmaps
  • 1 Synergy Roadmap for Kurdish HEIs
  • 35 European trainees
  • 150 local trainees
  • 1 Handbook of Training Resources
  • 1 Open Online Course
  • 7 International Mobility Days
  • 7 Career Days
  • 1 Start Cup Competition
  • 29 Participants in the Start Cup (Kurdish & EU students)
  • 1 Networking Event with stakeholders

Impact

Short-Term:

  • Academic & non-academic staff training
  • Community engagement with NGOs and industry

Long-Term:

  • Strengthened institutional governance and outreach
  • Improved graduate employability and global networking
  • Sustained international collaboration

Work Packages (WPs)

WP1: [February 2025 - January 2027]

Project Management & Quality Assurance (Led by UNIMED & University of Garmian) – Ensuring efficient coordination, quality standards, and Bologna Process integration.

  • Project management, monitoring and evaluation
  • T1.1 Conducting operational and financial management
  • T1.2 Establishing and managing internal communication tools
  • T1.3 Performing activities of monitoring, evaluation and quality assurance

WP2: [February 2025 - August 2025]

Employability & Internationalization Roadmaps (Led by The University of Duhok & Sulaimani Polytechnic University) – Developing curriculum reforms, industry engagement strategies, and student mobility frameworks.

  • Definition of the Roadmaps
  • T2.1 Definition of the Roadmap for Internationalisation.
  • T2.2 Definition of the roadmap for entrepreneurship career development
  • T2.3 Organisation of the workshop with external and internal stakeholders
  • T2.4 Organisation of a public presentation of the roadmap to the university leadership and staff

WP3: [July 2025 - May 2026]

Faculty & Career Services Capacity Building (Led by University of Murcia & University of International Studies of Rome) – Training faculty, career advisors, and academic leaders in modern teaching methodologies.

  • Capacity Building Action
  • T3.1 Definition of training needs and drafting of training Programme (online and in-presence)
  • T3.2 Creation of an online preparatory course, certified with an online badge
  • T3.3 Organisation of the training week in Murcia
  • T3.4 Organisation of the training week in Rome
  • T3.5 Organisation of the Local Training
  • T3.6 Participation in the training, appointment of trainers and trainees

WP4: [June 2026 - January 2027]

Career Services & Industry Collaboration (Led by Duhok Polytechnic University & University of Zakho) – Establishing career mentoring, employer engagement, and internship pathways.

  • From training to Action: operationalisation of the roadmaps
  • T4.1 Operationalisation of the roadmaps
  • T4.2 Organisation of a Start Cup Competition with International Students
  • T4.3 Organisation of a Networking Event with stakeholders

WP5: [February 2025 - January 2027]

WP5: Sustainability & Impact Dissemination (Led by Erbil Polytechnic University & UNIMED) – Ensuring long-term adoption and stakeholder engagement.

  • Dissemination and Sustainability
  • T5.1 Design of the Project Visual Identity
  • T5.2 Definition of the communication and dissemination strategy
  • T5.3 Performing dissemination activities
  • T5.4 Monitoring of dissemination activities and their impact
  • T5.5 Organization of dissemination events

Kick-off Meeting

Held on February 26–27, 2025 at the University of Duhok, the meeting marked the official launch of RISE.

Opening Remarks:

Highlights:

  • Presentation of RISE strategy by Silvia Marchionne & Martina Zipoli (UNIMED)
  • Contributions by UNINT Rector Dr. Mariagrazia Russo and UMU Vice-Rector Alicia Rubio Banon
  • Institutional introductions by partner Kurdish universities

Looking Ahead

The RISE project is poised to significantly impact the Kurdistan Region’s higher education landscape through deep institutional reforms, increased international collaboration, and a focus on student-centered, employability-enhancing approaches.

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