Washington DC, USA (us.gov.krd) – A delegation from the KRG Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and several universities visited the United States from April 10 to 14 to exchange views on how to improve collaboration between industry and universities.

The visit was organized by the International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX), a nonprofit organization that specializes in global education and development, which has been working in the Kurdistan Region to help develop an industry advisory board and other education-related projects.

In Washington, where they were accompanied by Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman, the KRG Representative to the United States, the delegation met with Gregory Sullivan, Public Affairs Director at the Iraq Desk of the US State Department’s Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, and several colleagues from the State Department and USAID. They discussed the KRG’s focus on promoting vocational training and education to encourage higher education institutions to be better aligned with the requirements of industry and to provide young people with qualifications that will lead to jobs.

They also met with the US Chamber of Commerce and discussed how its member companies view higher education and vocational training.

The delegation also visited Nashville, Tennessee, where they met officials from the Governor’s Office, universities, and chamber of commerce.