Higher Education Minister visits Poland as KRG increases education links
Dr Ali Saeed Mohammad, the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) Minister for Higher Education and Scientific Research, came to Poland to explore ways of strengthening educational ties, at the invitation of the Marshals of the Małopolska and Wielkopolska regions.
Minister Saeed was received by the Vice Marshal of the Wielkopolska Region, Mr Leszek Wojtas, and met Polish government officials and figures from prominent universities to speak about the recent addition of Poland to the list of countries taking part in the KRG’s Human Capacity Development Program (HCDP) and ways to increase collaboration in higher education. The HCDP provides funding to citizens of the Kurdistan Region who meet the criteria to study Masters degrees and doctorates abroad.
As part of his official visit, the Minister participated in ceremonies to inaugurate the academic year at Kraków’s Academy of Fine Arts and at Jagiellonian University. Established in 1364, Jagiellonian is not only the largest university in Kraków, but it is also one of the oldest universities Europe.
Minister Saeed went to other universities both in Kraków and Poznań, including the University of Adam Mickiewicz, where he saw its Centre for Kurdish Studies in which Polish students study Kurdish language and culture.
The visit follows several high-level meetings between the KRG and Polish officials and initiatives to promote stronger bilateral ties between the Poland and the Kurdistan Region.
The KRG signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Małopolska Region of Poland earlier this year, and last month the KRG Minister of Planning, Dr Ali Sindi, and the Chairman of the Kurdistan Board of Investment, Minister Herish Muharam, participated in the 22nd Economic Forum in Krynica where they focused on building stronger economic relations.
Minister Saeed was accompanied by the KRG Representative to Poland, Mr Ziyad Raoof, throughout his visit.
