Letter of Intent and Partnership Agreement between the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and NISA

Signed in Arabic on 9 October 2018; this is the network's English rendering. The original is available as a PDF.

Letter of Intent for Cooperation between the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in Iraq and the Network of Iraqi Scientists Abroad (NISA)

To achieve fruitful cooperation between the Iraqi Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and the Network of Iraqi Scientists Abroad in developing higher education and scientific research, the two parties agreed on 9 October 2018 as follows:

Article One: Preamble

Whereas the Ministry works continually to develop higher education institutions — including through international cooperation with distinguished universities, scientific centres and Iraqi scientists abroad in academic, scientific, research, cultural, training and development fields — and whereas the network seeks to provide expertise and support in science, technology and other branches of knowledge as a vital part of Iraq's development, and to exchange knowledge and train scientists, technicians and experts in education, innovation and technology transfer, the two parties share the desire to cooperate in bringing the network's services to Iraqi universities and scientific institutions.

Article Two: Areas of cooperation

The parties agreed that the network shall provide advice, assistance and support to the Iraqi academic and research institutions of the Ministry, to promote development activity and take part in the academic and scientific research activities of Iraqi universities. The network shall develop the capacities of Iraqi teaching staff and researchers through courses and workshops at their universities and scientific institutions, with financial arrangements — the costs of activities and each party's share — to be agreed in future according to available budget allocations.

Article Three: Academic cooperation

1. The Ministry encourages academic, scientific, research, training and cultural visits by network members to Iraqi universities and scientific institutions.
2. Both parties encourage the exchange of such visits to strengthen the scope of this memorandum.
3. The parties shall cooperate in coordinating exchange programmes for students, faculty, researchers and staff, and in joint academic, scientific, research, training, cultural and development projects, according to the Ministry's applicable regulations.
4. The first party shall do everything possible to facilitate the second party's mission during members' visits to Iraq — including travel, accommodation, transport, hospitality and honoraria under the Visiting Professor programme, in light of the Ministry's laws and instructions, where agreed between the parties.
5. The second party shall provide academic and scientific services including:
   • joint supervision of postgraduate students, and hosting them at the network members' institutions for extended research stays;
   • short-to-medium annual periods at Iraqi universities for lectures, programmes, courses and training workshops;
   • assessment of research and postgraduate theses, particularly those written in English;
   • evaluation of teaching staff for promotion;
   • joint research supervised by the Ministry and Iraqi universities;
   • a roadmap for academic accreditation of programmes and international recognition, and work with Iraqi universities on quality improvement and assurance;
   • development and improvement of curricula for degrees and scientific programmes;
   • strategies and policies for teaching, learning and scientific research;
   • training teaching staff in modern methods of teaching, lecturing and student assessment to higher-education quality standards;
   • participation in the international conferences held by the Ministry and universities, with organisational expertise and follow-up on recommendations;
   • training university administrative staff in university administration and the organisation of colleges and departments;
   • helping Iraqi students obtain places at international universities;
   • helping edit and publish rigorous Iraqi scientific journals and supporting Iraqi researchers publishing in international journals.

Article Four: Intellectual property

Both parties undertake to respect, and not infringe, the intellectual and literary property rights belonging to the other party.

Article Five: Copies

The mechanism was drawn up in two original copies, one held by each party; this letter does not take effect from its date of signature unless authorised and approved by both parties.

For the first party: the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research — For the second party: the Chairman of the Network of Iraqi Scientists Abroad