Projects
RISE (on going)
💰 Budget: € 399.960,00
🇪🇺 Programme: Erasmus+
📅 Duration: Feb 1, 2025 – Jan 31, 2027
Executive Summary
The RISE project is built on two assumptions: the first relates to higher education’s pivotal role in the society, for the creation of responsible citizens from local to global levels, and the second concerns the increasing importance of filling the gap between academia and industry improving the employability rate of graduates nationally and internationally. The Kurdistan region of Iraq has experienced an exacerbated economic, political and social crisis, and is therefore in dire need to develop long-term solutions to tackle unemployment and to support the sustainable growth of the region.
In this context, internationalisation of HEIs and entrepreneurship can synergically contribute to reach this ambitious as well as highly needed achievement. Therefore, RISE project seeks to:
- Define an integrated and coordinated approach for institutional development, through a synergic roadmap integrating internationalization and employability.
- Enhance skills and competences of university staff through capacity building of educators, administrative staff and students, empowering them to play an active role in the local and global scenarios for institutional and societal sustainable development.
- Increase the attractiveness and international exposure of HEIs, through mobility, networking and strengthening internationalization services.
- Improving the entrepreneurial mindset of students and graduates and reinforcing the relations between academia and industry for a new generation of young entrepreneurs and global citizens.
The ultimate goal of RISE is to contribute to the sustainable development of the Kurdish society through the reinforcement of the institutional capacity of universities in generating a new class of young leaders, entrepreneurs, scientists, professionals and responsible world citizens, as active players in the global and local scenarios. Associated partner of the project: Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in KRG (Iraq).
Mission Statement
RISE is dedicated to transforming Kurdish HEIs into engines of social and economic growth. Through an integrated approach to employability and internationalisation, it fosters a new generation of globally aware professionals.
RISE aims to:
- Create institutional strategies that link employability with internationalisation.
- Build the skills of university staff and students to drive sustainable development.
- Enhance global visibility through mobility and networking.
- Promote entrepreneurship to nurture responsible student leaders.
Objectives
Aligned with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in KRG, RISE:
- Develops scalable, impactful models for HEIs.
- Boosts the competitiveness of Kurdish universities locally and internationally.
- Encourages synergy between employability and internationalisation strategies.
Key Expected Results
- 7 Internationalisation Roadmaps
- 7 Career Development Roadmaps
- 1 Synergy Roadmap for Kurdish HEIs
- 35 European trainees
- 150 local trainees
- 1 Handbook of Training Resources
- 1 Open Online Course
- 7 International Mobility Days
- 7 Career Days
- 1 Start Cup Competition
- 1 Networking Event with stakeholders
Impact
Short-Term:
Academic & non-academic staff training; Community engagement with NGOs and industry.
Long-Term:
Strengthened institutional governance and outreach; Improved graduate employability and global networking; Sustained international collaboration.
Work Packages (WPs)
WP1: Project Management & Quality Assurance [February 2025 – January 2027]
Led by UNIMED & University of Garmian – Ensuring efficient coordination, quality standards, and Bologna Process integration.
Project management, monitoring and evaluation
T1.1 Conducting operational and financial management | T1.2 Establishing and managing internal communication tools | T1.3 Performing activities of monitoring, evaluation and quality assurance
WP2: Employability & Internationalization Roadmaps [February 2025 – August 2025]
Led by The University of Duhok & Sulaimani Polytechnic University – Developing curriculum reforms, industry engagement strategies, and student mobility frameworks.
Definition of the Roadmaps
T2.1 Definition of the Roadmap for Internationalisation. | T2.2 Definition of the roadmap for entrepreneurship career development | T2.3 Organisation of the workshop with external and internal stakeholders | T2.4 Organisation of a public presentation of the roadmap to the university leadership and staff
WP3: Faculty & Career Services Capacity Building [July 2025 – May 2026]
Led by University of Murcia & University of International Studies of Rome – Training faculty, career advisors, and academic leaders in modern teaching methodologies.
Capacity Building Action
T3.1 Definition of training needs and drafting of training Programme | T3.2 Creation of an online preparatory course, certified with an online badge | T3.3 Organisation of the training week in Murcia | T3.4 Organisation of the training week in Rome | T3.5 Organisation of the Local Training | T3.6 Participation in the training, appointment of trainers and trainees
WP4: Career Services & Industry Collaboration [June 2026 – January 2027]
Led by Duhok Polytechnic University & University of Zakho – Establishing career mentoring, employer engagement, and internship pathways.
From training to Action: operationalisation of the roadmaps
T4.1 Operationalisation of the roadmaps | T4.2 Organisation of a Start Cup Competition with International Students | T4.3 Organisation of a Networking Event with stakeholders
WP5: Sustainability & Impact Dissemination [February 2025 – January 2027]
Led by Erbil Polytechnic University & UNIMED – Ensuring long-term adoption and stakeholder engagement.
Dissemination and Sustainability
T5.1 Design of the Project Visual Identity | T5.2 Definition of the communication and dissemination strategy | T5.3 Performing dissemination activities | T5.4 Monitoring of dissemination activities and their impact | T5.5 Organization of dissemination events