The University of Northampton has become the latest member of the Iraq Britain Business Council, joining 55 other world- and region- leading organisations that form IBBC’s membership.

Despite being one of the youngest universities in the UK, the University of Northampton are already leading the way in adding value to society and social impact. Northampton has won multiple awards for their work in this area, becoming the first university in the UK to be named as a Changemaker Campus in 2012.

In 2017 alone, the University has been awarded Gold by the government for the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), praising the quality of student experience as well as being awarded a Social Enterprise Gold Mark, an independent guarantee that the university puts the interests of society above anything else.

The University has a strong connection with Iraq, having first connected with the University of Babylon in 2012, with the successful introduction of a twinning programme in the areas of computing and nursing.

Dr Ali Al-Sherbaz, Senior Lecturer in Computing in the Faculty of Art, Science and Technology, who first initiated the connection, stated:

“This unique partnership enables Iraqi students to study for two years in Babylon, followed by two years in Northampton, with the option of a further MSc year. To date, 85 Babylon students have studied here in Northampton, with the first cohort of 30 having graduated last summer, which was a great honour as the Iraqi Ambassador to the UK was present at the ceremony.

“Our new franchise degree collaboration will result in more Iraqi students being able to study and graduate from University of Northampton awards, but takes away any financial or visa issues that studying in the UK may incur.”

An English language centre has also been set up at the University of Babylon, which enables the students to take the exam online and is marked by University of Northampton lecturers.

The University of Northampton is a public university based in Northampton, Northamptonshire, England. It was formed in 1999 by the amalgamation of a number of training colleges and gained full university status as The University of Northampton in 2005.

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For more information, please visit www.northampton.ac.uk.