Academy for Educational Development

IRAQ’S PRIME MINISTER TO ANNOUNCE
BOLD NEW INITIATIVE TO BRING
IRAQ’S EDUCATION SYSTEM INTO 21ST CENTURY

 Prime Minister to Sign Agreement with AED July 25 in DC

Washington, D.C., July 20, 2009 —In an effort to enable Iraq to rebuild its country expeditiously, Iraq’s Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki will announce a new education initiative on Saturday, July 25, at  9:30 a.m. at AED in Washington, DC.  Among the Iraq Education Initiative’s goals is to send up to 10,000 Iraqi students per year over the next five years to the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia to complete their higher education studies, beginning with a pilot program of 500 students for the 2009-2010 school year.

Twenty-two universities are founding members of the American Universities Iraq Consortium which are welcoming these students. Consortium details will be announced at the event.

Who:  Iraq Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and Dr. Zuhair Humadi, executive director of the program.

What:  Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki will announce a bold new initiative to modernize Iraq’s education system and introduce the American Universities Iraq Consortium.  The Prime Minister and AED President Stephen F. Moseley will sign an implementation agreement between the Iraqi Government Higher Committee for Education Development and AED.  The Prime Minister will also sign an MOU with the University System of Ohio.

Where:  AED, Academy Hall, 1825 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, DC.

When:  Saturday, July 25, 9:30 a.m.

EDITORS:  The Prime Minister and Dr. Zuhair Humadi will take questions from media related only to this initiative due to time constraints.  Also 25 Iraqi students now studying at Virginia Commonwealth University will be on hand to discuss their experience in this country. 

AED:  Founded in 1961, AED is a preeminent, nonprofit social change organization working globally to improve education, health, social and economic development—the backbone of thriving societies.  Focusing on the underserved, AED's worldwide staff of 2000 implements more than 300 programs serving people in all 50 U.S. states and more than 150 countries.  For details visit www.aed.org.

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