English UK scopes Kurdistan opportunity

English UK is planning a members’ event in Iraqi Kurdistan after representatives have just returned from a productive visit to the region. “We hope this will help English UK members to connect with potential students, study abroad agents and other stakeholders and influencers,” Jodie Gray, senior international manager at English UK, said of the event slated for May.

English UK reps visit Cihan University, Erbil. From left to right: Steve Phillips, English UK, Dr Nawzad Bajger, Cihan University, Professor Amjad S. Aldalawi, Cihan University, Jodie Gray and Richard Day, English UK.

Steve Phillips and Richard Day, members of the board of directors, spent three days meeting officials across the country including the region’s main study abroad agents, senior staff of four leading universities and business leaders.

They also met representatives of the country’s Human Capacity Development Programme, a scholarship scheme allotting US$100m a year to higher training for university graduates and government staff.

“There was a very positive and progressive feeling in the country, which has been rapidly developing over the last few years,” said Day. “Kurdistan is placing great emphasis on education in the development process.”

Opportunity for international education operators has been increasing in recent years as Iraqi Kurdistan seeks to up-skill its population after decades of conflict. Pearson opened its first test centre in the region in December while UK Universities and Science Minister, David Willetts, visited last month last month to strengthen scholarship ties.

A key driver in this is the Human Capacity Development Programme, which since 2010 has helped more than 4,000 students study abroad, with two-thirds going to the UK. The programme includes an allocation for students to improve their English in the UK for one year before postgraduate study at university.

English UK is now preparing a report on market opportunities for UK English language providers.

“Kurdistan is a great opportunity for English UK and its members, still a pioneering EFL market and a region that has been overlooked by many educators. Now is the time to act,” said Phillips.