Refugees Country Briefing

IRAQ

This document was developed in the framework of the EU-funded project “Refugees and Recognition– Toolkit for recognition of higher education for refugees, displaced persons and persons in a refugeelike situation” by the ENIC-NARIC centres of France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and the United
Kingdom.

The European Commission support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents, which reflects
the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use, which may be made of the information contained
therein.This country briefing – specially developed to help with the evaluation of credentials of refugees,
displaced persons and persons in a refugee-like situation – should give orientation on the education
system in IRAQ in the light of recent political and economic developments in this country. It presentsa systematised overview on its higher education system and links to the available information sourcesthat are useful for the evaluation of qualifications of refugees coming from IRAQ, even in cases wherecandidates present insufficient or lack of documentation.

Republic of Iraq

Source: CIA World Factbook

Location: Iraq is a country in Middle East, bordered by Turkey to the north, Iran to the east, Kuwait tothe southeast, Saudi Arabia to the south, Jordan to the southwest, and Syria to the west.
Population: 37 million
Ethnic Groups: The main ethnic groups are Arabs and Kurds; others include Assyrians, Turkmen,Shabakis, Yazidis, Armenians, Mandeans, Circassians, and Kawliya.
Languages: The official languages of Iraq are Arabic and Kurdish.

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1. Current situation
In the period preceding the first Gulf War, Iraq had a sustainable and well-functioning educationalsystem. The period from 1970 to 1984 was called the “golden period” due to high enrolment rates,and spending on education reached 20 per cent of the total government budget. In the Iran-Iraq War
that began in 1980 and lasted eight years, Iraq lost many lives and much of its national capacity, andaccumulated substantial debt. In 1990, after the end of the first Gulf War, Iraq was under aninternational trusteeship through the oil-for-food programme. The economic sanction weakened thecountry’s infrastructure and impeded the delivery of social services; leading to the education sector
significantly deteriorating during the years 1990 to 2003, which are considered the years of crisis. It isnotable that from 1986 to 2003, no schools were built in Iraq. Following US invasion in 2003, Iraqi
universities were stripped clean of books and basic equipment. Museums and university libraries werelooted and many of their cultural artifacts and documents were destroyed. Many professors werekidnapped and assassinated during this period.
In the middle of 2014, Daesh occupied three main Iraqi cities: Mosul, Alanbar and Tikrit. 8 universities
like Al Fallujah University, University of Mosul and Tikrit University were seriously affected and forced
to close their original campuses. More than 113000 students had to stop their studies. In 2015, Tikrit
city was liberated and Tikrit university re-opened again.

Approaches to evaluation of the qualifications from Iraq can be different in different ENIC-NARIC
countries depending on the mandate of the evaluation authorities. More information on
assessment practices of documentation from Iraq can be obtained from the E-learning modulesto be developed within the framework of the EU-funded project “Refugees and Recognition –Toolkit for recognition of higher education for refugees, displaced persons and persons in arefugee-like situation” by the ENIC-NARIC centres of France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway andthe United Kingdom.

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2. Education chart

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3. Education system
Primary and Secondary Education
Primary and secondary education is overseen by the Ministry of Education (MoE) in the Centre andthe Kurdistan region.

Primary Education
Six years primary stage is compulsory (grades 1 to 6)

Nine years primary stage (grades 1 to 9) is compulsory in Kurdistan region

Lower Secondary

Intermediate education (grades 7 to 9)‫شهادة المرحلة المتوسطة‬/ Certificate of intermediate education, Third form baccalaureate
certificate (Kurdistan region)

Upper Secondary (Academic and Vocational Pathways)
Preparatory education (grades 10 to 12)‫شهادة الدراسة الثانوية‬/‫شهادة السادس االعدادي‬/‫ وثيقة مدرسية‬/secondary school certificate/Sixth formbaccalaureate certificate (Kurdistan region)

Preparatory education is divided into two streams (science and arts) starting from the 2nd year:
University-preparatory qualifications ‫شهادة الدراسة الثانوية‬/‫شهادة السادس االعدادي‬, (3 years)o Scienceo Arts
Technical and vocational qualifications
 ‫االعدادية المهنية‬/‫ وثيقة مدرسية‬/ Vocational Baccalaureate (3 years) leads to post-secondary
technical programso Agricultureo Industrial studies
o Veterinaryo Commercial studies

Higher Vocational Education
The main providers of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector in Iraq are
the General Directorate of Vocational Education (GDVE) in the Ministry of Education, theFoundation of Technical Education, and Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (MoLSA). GDVE isresponsible for 250 vocational schools offering training and equipment to secondary schools (grade12). The Foundation of Technical Education of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific
Research is in charge of technical education at higher level.

Types of vocational qualifications• ‫دبلوم فني‬/ ‫( دبلوم تقني‬Technical Diploma)

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•
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Admission based on completed Grade 12 of upper secondary school
Duration: 2 years‫( دبلوم التعليم االبتدائي‬Diploma of Primary Education)•••

Admission based on completed Grade 9 of lower secondary school or grade 12 ofupper secondary school
Duration: 5 years after grade 9 or 2 years after grade 12Qualifies for teaching in primary school

Higher Education
Tertiary education is provided by universities, colleges and the Foundation of Technical Education.
Institutions are overseen by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. Iraq has state
universities and private universities. Private universities exist since the 1980s; most of these have been
accredited by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.
Admission to higher education institutions is administered by the Central Admissions Department ofthe Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. Admission to university is on a competitivebasis, so not all students fulfilling all requirements will be able to enter university. Individualinstitutions may set their own admissions requirements.

Higher education institutions
 33 Public universities admitting both Scientific Stream Students and Literary
Stream Students.
 22 Institutes admitting Commercial Stream Graduate Students
 7 Institutes admitting Agricultural Stream graduate Students with otherSpecialties.
 26 Institutes admitting Vocational Stream graduate Students with otherSpecialties.
 4 Institutes admitting Applied Art Stream Graduate Students.
 45 private colleges and universities
NB : annexes of private universities and faculties are not recognised by the MoHESR

Types of qualifications•‫ بكالوريوس في التقنيات‬/ Bachelor of Technology•••••

Awarded at technical institutes
Admission based on completed upper secondary school
Duration: 4 years
Gives access to Master degree‫ بكالوريوس آداب‬/ ‫ بكالوريوس علوم‬/ Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Sciences•••

Admission based on completed upper secondary school
Duration : 4 years
Gives access to Master degree

April 20176•‫ بكالوريوس علوم صيدلية‬/ Bachelor of Pharmacy•••‫ بكالوريوس علوم في الهندسة المعمارية‬/ Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering••••Admission after a Bachelor degree
Duration : 2 years
1 year of coursework and 1 year of research
Gives access to PhD‫ دبلوم عالي في التقنيات‬/ Higher diploma in Technology•
•
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•

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Admission based on completed upper secondary school
Duration : 6 years‫ ماجستير‬/ Master of Arts, Master of Science•••••

Admission based on completed upper secondary school
Duration : 5 years‫ بكالوريوس في الطب و الجراحة‬/ Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery•••

Admission based on completed upper secondary school
Duration : 5 years‫ بكالوريوس في الطب و الجراحة البيطرية‬/ Bachelor in Veterinary Medicine•••

Admission based on completed Grade 12 of upper secondary schoolDuration : 5 years
Focus on architecture‫ بكالوريوس في الطب و جراحة االسنان‬/ Bachelor of Dental Surgery•••

Admission based on completed upper secondary school
Duration : 5 years

Admission after a Bachelor of Technology
Duration : 2 years
Awarded at technical institutes
Does not typically give access to PhD‫ ماجستيرفي التقنيات‬/ Master of Technology••••

Admission after a Bachelor of Technology
Duration : 2 years
Awarded at technical institutes
Gives access to PhD•‫ دبلوم عالي‬/ Higher Diploma• Awarded in the medical field• Duration : 1-3 years of clinical studies•‫ دكتراه‬/ Doctor of Philosophy, PhD• Awarded after a Master degree (‫)ماجيستار‬• Duration : minimum 3 years• 1 year of coursework + 2 years of dissertation research + Thesis defenseApril 20177

Grading System in Higher education
Scale
90 - 100
80 – 89.99
70 – 79.99
60 – 69.99
50 – 59.99
0 – 49.99

Description (Arabic)‫ ممتاز‬/ ‫فائق‬‫جيد جدا‬‫جيد‬‫متوسط‬‫مقبول‬‫راسب‬

Description (English)
Excellent
Very goodGoodMediumPassFail

Quality Assurance in Higher Education
The Ministry of Education is responsible for the accreditation of primary and secondary
education institutions; higher education falls under the Ministry of Higher Education andScientific Research, as does the Foundation of Technical Institutes.
In 2008, Quality Assurance and Academic Accreditation Department was established to work on: Ensuring the quality and relevance of academic programs being implemented
in Iraqi universities.
 Promoting Iraqi universities to be internationally qualified for academic accreditation.
 All academic staff is annually assessed.

4. Certification / Documentation
National format norms and composition of the file• Degrees and diplomas are issued in portrait and landscape format in Arabic andEnglish (A4)
• Logo of the university• Name of the university/name of the faculty, institutes• Photo of the holder• Date of issue• Enrolment year (academic year)• Seals of the university, one on the picture of the holder• A minimum of two signatures (always in Arabic), signatures from the registrar anddean, president and dean, president and registrar etc.
• Transcript: includes the name of the university, name of the faculty or college orinstitute, reference number of the transcript, name of the student, name of thequalification, grade, record, specialisation, credits, subjects•Seals and signatures of the university and the ministry of foreign affairs in the backpage of the qualification

April 201785. Useful sources and links
Ministry of Education (MoEd)
http://www.moedu.gov.iq/
Foundation of Technical Education
http://www.fte.edu.iq/index.php
Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MoHESR)
http://mohesr.gov.iq/
Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research Kurdistan region
http://www.mhe-krg.org/
The alumni affaires site of Baghdad University: http://www.graduation.uobaghdad.edu.iq
Online verification of graduates from Mosul University by field and by year (1967-2013)
http://www.uomosul.edu.iq/#
Fiche Curie Irak (country profiles)
http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/IMG/pdf/IRAK_fiche_Curie_3_novembre_2014__cle8f24ef.pdf
EP-Nuffic Country profiles, Iraq
https://www.epnuffic.nl/en/diploma-recognition/foreign-education-systems
Iraqi research foundation for analysis and development: http://www.irfad.org/iraqeducation/
Education system in Iraq (national agency for higher education, Sweden
http://norric.org/files/education-systems/Iraq%202003
Iraq Higher education – United Nation University: archive.unu.edu/news/ili/Iraq.doc
https://unu.edu/Iraq – Country report on out-of-school children
http://www.ooscimena.org/uploads/1/wysiwyg/summary/150311_Iraq_Summary_English_P
review.pdf
World Education Service
https://www.wes.org/ca/wedb/iraq/fizedov.htm
World data on education
http://www.ibe.unesco.org/sites/default/files/Iraq.pdf
Summary on higher education in Iraq (Baghdad University)
http://www.iasj.net/iasj?func=fulltext&aId=50876
Iraq education system – Classbase
http://www.classbase.com/Countries/iraq/Education-SystemApril 20179

6. Evaluation tips and recommendations
Most universities have their own online verification database for graduates by field and by year.
In Iraq, the overall grade corresponds to marks of each subjects, don’t hesitate to calculate thedifferent marks to see if they correspond to the overall grade.
Always check the back page of the Degree Certificate. It can help you to compare signatures andseals with the front-page.
Link to good practices: EAR HEI manual http://eurorecognition.eu/Manual/EAR%20HEI.pdf

The European Commission support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents, which reflectsthe views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use, which may be made of the information contained
therein.

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