Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne, President of IBBC, Christophe Michels, MD and Rasmi Al Jabri, Deputy Chairman recently completed a productive trip to Iraq, where they met with numerous IBBC members, Iraqi government officials and attended a medical conference at Kufa University.

The IBBC management first visited Baghdad, where they attended the Iraq Airport Aviation Forum 11-12 April. Meetings were later held with numerous IBBC members and key government officials, including Dr Al Alak, Secretary General of the Council of Ministers, Dr Faisal AbdulKareem, Chairman the Prime Minister’s Advisory Committee and Mr Abbas Imran Al-Zubaidi.

The Baroness, Mr Michels and Mr Al Jabri also travelled to Najaf, where they attended a medical conference at Kufa University. At the conference, the Deans of most medical schools in Iraq gathered to discuss the new medical curriculum developed by Kufa University in partnership with IBBC member Leicester University. The curriculum, already in place at Kufa University, will see its first contingent of students graduate later this year. This new, modern integrated curriculum will subsequently be adopted by five more medical schools across Iraq, including at the medical school in Baghdad.

Christophe Michels stated: “This development is a real game changer for Higher Education in Iraq. I have no doubt it will impact positively on the educational landscape in the country and ensure Iraq will leapfrog many countries in the region”.

Professor Muhammed Al Usri, Honorary Professor with Social and Epidemiological Psychiatry Research Group at Leicester University, accompanied the Baroness and IBBC during their visit to Kufa and has been instrumental in the facilitation of this revolutionary development in Iraqi Higher Education. His standing in the Higher Education system in Iraq is unparalleled and his dedication to Iraqi British relations has been exemplary.

Baroness Nicholson attended the conference on behalf of Paul Boyle, Vice Chancellor of Leicester University and gave the principal address alongside the Iraqi Minister of Higher Education & Research. Dr Victoria Lindsay, Country Director of the British Council was also in attendance. The British Council was instrumental in funding and facilitating the partnership between Kufa and Leicester in the early stages. IBBC members who attended later had the opportunity to join a meeting with the minister and with the ministries’ Director General of Construction.

Mr Michels and Ramsi Al Jabri, Deputy Chairman of IBBC also visited Najaf Chambers of Commerce, a long-standing supporter and founder member of IBBC. They were hosted by Eng. Zuhair Sharba, Chairman of the Najaf Chamber, who is currently running for parliamentary elections.

On their return to Baghdad, Baroness Nicholson and Mr Michels had meetings with the Prime Minister’s Office and the Baroness was the guest of honour at this year’s Queens Birthday Party at the British Embassy and gave the principal address.

IBBC are hugely grateful to Al Burhan Group and Managing Director Mr Imad Burhan in particular, for their most generous hospitality during IBBC’s visit to Baghdad and the tremendous dinner, which was held in honour of Baroness Nicholson for guests and IBBC members. IBBC is additionally thankful towards Al Burhan Airways, which provided excellent transportation to and from Najaf by helicopter and to Al Burhan Security for looking after them in Baghdad.