So many Iraqi students are asking us about the scholarship and the basics…so here they are as we understand them. The best and most accurate information can be found on the official site of the Higher Committee for Education Development in Iraq (?????? ??????? ?????? ??????? ?? ??????).

The newly launched Iraq Education Initiative scholarships will allow approximately 50,000 Iraqi students study in English speaking countries across the world.  The first group of scholarships are being awarded for the upcoming year (2009/2010) and the scholarship application is open for students to apply. The Iraqi scholarship application is available here: http://www.hcediraq.org/index_files/Apply.htm

This is a scholarship awarded by the Iraqi government and requires students to return home to work for the same amount of time they were studying.  The students are fully funded by the government of Iraq.  There are currently NO open offices for students to go to for the scholarship. In order to receive it, you MUST fill out the application and send it in.

Fast Facts:

• 500-600 scholarships to be awarded in September 2009 to Iraqi students
• Students must apply to English speaking Universities (United States, United Kingdom, Australia, etc)
  
• Scholarships include tuition, fees, and living stipend
• Students may apply for Associates (2 year), Bachelors, Masters and PhD programs
• English language program study is available for students to improve language skills
  
• Open to all accredited Universities, Colleges, Community Colleges
• Scholarships are awarded according to the percentage of population in each province of Iraq
• 10,000 scholarships available for the next 5 years (beginning in 2o10/2011)

The first step you MUST take is to complete the scholarship application! Once you have completed your application, you will need to start thinking about where you want to attend college.  The next steps will be easier once you have your application for the Iraqi scholarship completed.

To start you will need to:
1. Review the rules for the Iraq education scholarship
2. Fill out the scholarship application carefully and accurately
a.  Bachelors degree scholarship application
b. Masters/PhD scholarship application
3. Send application in to the Higher Committee (HCED)
4. Receive confirmation of your application from the Committee
5. Wait for a response regarding your scholarship

The program begins with a pilot program, a small class of 500-600 students for the upcoming academic year.  Students must apply for the scholarship here: http://www.hcediraq.org/index_files/Apply.htm and we suggest you apply TODAY, the Iraqi scholarship application for 2009/2010 closes on September 1, 2009.

Currently it appears that the application is only in Arabic. If any Kurdish students need assistance, let us know so we can find a person to help with translation for you.

The scholarship is currently only open to Iraqi citizens who are currently living in Iraq and have lived in Iraq for the 2 years prior to the application.  Applications are for Bachelors and Masters & PhD degrees, there are age requirements for the different degrees which you can find here:
http://www.hcediraq.org/index_files/Eligibility.htm

You do NOT need to take the TOEFL in order to be considered for the scholarship, however, it will assist in your application process. You can learn more about the TOEFL here and find locations for where it is administered in Iraq from the official website of ETS.

Once you’ve completed your scholarship application, its probably a good idea to start figuring out where you want to study! Let us know if you have any questions and if you need any help with your decisions. We highly recommend our friends at MyUSearch as one of the few UNBIASED college matchmakers out there!

The session speaker, Dr. Zuhair Humadi is the brainchild of the Iraq Education Initiative and a graduate of the US educational system. He will discuss ways that the admissions offices will be able to collaborate with the scholarship initiative to admit qualified students to their programs.

To begin building a directory of Universities that accept international students without the SAT requirement and that offer ESL and conditional admissions programs we are encouraging all admissions officers to add your information to the College & University Directory.

Session Information

Title: GS210: The Iraqi Educational Initiative: Opportunities for Collaboration
Begin Time: Thursday, 5/28 – 9:15 AM
Audience: General Professional Interest
Description: Presenters will discuss the possibilities for collaboration between institutions of higher education and the Iraqi government. The Iraqi Educational Initiative will invest heavily in the educational system to develop the human resources of the country. The goal is to make Iraq a center of learning in the Middle East through investments in all levels of education.
Chair: Zuhair Humadi, PhD, Office of the Iraqi Prime Minister

http://acsearch.nafsa.org/KCSessions.aspx
Search for “Iraq”

Stop by our booth #1445 at NAFSA for a chance to win a free full page ad in the November issue of Al Jamiat!

See you at NAFSA!

According to Dr. Zuhair Humadi, the executive director of the Iraq Education Initiative and a senior advisor to Vice President Adil Abd Al-Mahdi, the Iraqi government has committed $1 billion a year to this program.  Each year for a period of five years, the initiative will provide full scholarships for up to 10,000 Iraqi high school graduates to study in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, France and Germany. Dr Humadi estimated that more than 80% of the scholarships will go to undergraduate students interested in seeking an associates or bachelors degree.

Some of the US Colleges and Universities attending this unusual recruiting fair included University of Oregon,Virginia Commonwealth University, Southern Illinois University, West Virginia University, University of Kentucky , University of Evansville , Texas A&M University, a Representative for the Universities of the State of Ohio, as well as other universities, community colleges, and intensive English language programs.

In a letter to university representatives, Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki explained the reasoning behind the Iraq Education Initiative: “For many years, the system of higher education in Iraq was regarded as one of the finest in the Arab world. Students from many countries came to Iraq to attend our colleges and universities, however, wars and sanctions have impaired the system of education. … Iraq needs a strategic program that will transform its education system in order to make up the time lost in developing its human resources.”

Events held in both Baghdad and Suleimaniyah in the Kurdish region of Iraq were successful in allowing more than 600 students to discuss their interest in studying in the United States and other countries directly with deans and representatives from the attending colleges. John S. Jackson, Professor at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale was one of the fair attendees and spoke with the excited Iraqi students about their credentials and desire to study in the United States, “Many expressed a very concrete desire to return to Iraq to help make it a better nation”. he said, a theme reflected in the Prime Minister’s keynote address.

While students will be required to take the TOEFL exam at one of the 15 newly opened testing centers in Iraq and score at least a 450 to be eligible for the government sponsored scholarship, they will not have the opportunity to take the SAT or ACT exams. Universities are encouraged to be as flexible as possible when recruiting the Iraqi students and to expect students to enter an intensive English language program before matriculating in the general program.  Colleges and universities without SAT requirements and that offer conditional admissions should expect an influx of student applications.

In June a pilot program will launch to work through the logistics and attempt to streamline any issues that may come up before sending the annual expected 10,000 students. As information becomes available Al Jamiat will continue to update readers.

Quick Facts:

• 10,000 students per year sent to English speaking Universities
• 500 student pilot program to be launched in June
• Scholarships will include tuition, fees, and living stipend
• Students may apply for Associates, Bachelors & Masters programs
• Open to all accredited Universities, Colleges, Community Colleges
• Students must score a 450 on the TOEFL test to be eligible for the scholarship