Top Stories

UNESCO and the European Union have launched a new project to strengthen job opportunities and support digital transformation in Iraq.

The first meeting of the TVET3 Program was held with the participation of representatives from UNESCO, the European Union, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research – Iraq, the Ministry of Education – Iraq, technical universities in both the Kurdistan Region and Federal Iraq.

Prof. Dr. Ari Adil, Rector of Duhok Polytechnic University, participated online in the meeting. During the session, the program’s objectives, activities, and the six-month work plan were presented to ensure an effective start and to achieve the desired results.

Duhok Polytechnic University has been an active partner in this project for three years. The TVET3 project, which will continue until 2027, aims to:

• Support and implement national policies, strategies, and action plans necessary for the digital transformation in targeted provinces of Iraq.
• Improve the quality of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) services, with a focus on the private sector and the digital economy.
• Promote the role of civil society organizations in supporting and strengthening TVET across Iraq.

The project involves seven Iraqi technical universities, including three from the Kurdistan Region, as well as the University of Technology – Baghdad. It also covers:

• Eight vocational schools in Baghdad, Nineveh, Erbil, Salahuddin, Babylon, Diwaniya, Dhi Qar, and Basra.
• Two vocational training centers in Salahuddin and Basra.

Government representatives expressed their gratitude to the European Union for its continued support to the education sector in Iraq, and to UNESCO for its efforts in implementing programs that prepare Iraqi youth with the skills needed for the labor market and for addressing global challenges such as climate change.