FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The University of Arkansas and the University of Kufa in Najaf, Iraq, have established a formal agreement of cooperation that is intended to further the academic objectives of each institution.

Dr. Ahmed Al-Thabhawee, dean of faculty of veterinary medicine at the University of Kufa, signed the agreement on May 19 on behalf of Akeel Abed Yaseen, president of the university. Al-Thabhawee was accompanied on a visit to the University of Arkansas by Dr. Ammar Alsahrawi, deputy cultural attaché for the Iraqi Cultural Office in Washington, D.C.

Under the agreement, the universities will work to develop programs for exchanging academic, research or other educational materials, including research reports, reprints and other publications or unpublished papers. The agreement also calls for the development of programs for the University of Kufa to send students to the University of Arkansas.

The universities will also explore opportunities for their respective faculty members, visiting student researchers and administrators to be in residence at the other institution for the purposes of lecturing, conducting research and developing their academic or administrative skills.

Also, collaborative programs, seminars and research activities will be encouraged and supported under the agreement.

A total of 24 students from Iraq were enrolled at the U of A for the spring 2014 semester, including 23 on the graduate level who are sponsored by one of three scholarships awarded by the Iraqi government. In addition, there were 14 students enrolled at the Spring International Language Center who will be admitted to the U of A once they complete the required English proficiency level. Spring International partners with the university to provide intensive English and cross-cultural education to foreign students. 

During their visit, Al-Thabhawee and Alsahrawi visited U of A research facilities, graduate coordinators and faculty from various U of A departments, international education offices and Spring International.

Al-Thabhawee and Alsahrawi also met with representatives of the campus’ sponsored student programs office in the Graduate School and International Education and attended an evening social and poster presentation reception with Iraqi students and their families.

Sponsored students are those who are funded by foreign governments, the U.S. government, domestic and international agencies, private companies, and corporations. These international students, upon completion of their degrees, return to their home countries and serve as important links between the United States, Arkansas, and the University in business, government, education, and industry.

The agreement was the result of efforts by Douglas Rhoads, director of the U of A graduate program in cell and molecular biology, and Adnan Al-Rubaye, associate director of the cell and molecular biology program, to increase opportunities for sponsored students from Iraq at U of A. The initiative was funded by Sharon Gaber, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, and coordinated with Lynn Mosesso, director of the office of graduate recruitment and graduate and international admissions and Gloria Flores Passmore, director of sponsored student programs.

This visit was part of an overall initiative by the Graduate School and International Education to grow the Iraqi student population at the U of A by attending Education USA Recruitment Fairs in Iraq, working with the Iraqi Cultural Office and attending the US-Iraq Higher Education Conference in Washington.

Al-Rubaye holds two degrees from the University of Baghdad and was the first Iraqi government-sponsored Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research scholar at the U of A. He earned a doctorate in cell and molecular biology and a master’s degree in science education at the U of A in 2013.

“The agreement with the University of Kufa is great step forward to help the University of Kufa benefit from the research and academic advancements available at the University of Arkansas,” Al-Rubaye said. “University of Kufa faculty members and staff are excited to start this collaboration and looking forward to a stronger relationship with our university.”

The University of Kufa was founded in 1987 and comprises 12 colleges, including a College of Medicine. The public university has grown to an enrollment of 22,500 students, including 2,500 graduate students.