ICET 2021

Mr. James Thornton, British Consul-General of Erbil, delivered a keynote speech on behalf of the British Embassy Baghdad and British Consulate General Erbil in the Opening Ceremony of ICET 2021. His inspiring speech emphasized the need for quality educational services and the importance of projects like ICET in contribution for educational development. Mr. James Thornton also thanked and expressed his appreciation to Stirling Schools and its British partners for organizing the ICET conference. On behalf of the ICET Organizing Committee, British Consul-General also delivered plaques of appreciation to General Directors of Education of the cities for their invaluable contribution and support for ICET 2021. We appreciate the valuable support of British Embassy Baghdad and British Consulate General Erbil.

Mr Umed Khoshnaw, Governor of Erbil, delivered a keynote address in the Opening Ceremony of ICET 2021. Mr Governor stated the importance and priority of education in their agenda along with health during this pandemic. He emphasized the fact that after all these experiences, nothing will be the same in education in the post-covid era. He stated that we should turn our faces to the future with the lessons learned from this crisis, and we should benefit from the ICET conference to build a better future for educational services in the region. Mr Governor also thanked Stirling Schools and its international partners for organizing the ICET conference. Oh behalf of ICET Organizing Committee, Mr Umed Khoshnaw, Governor of Erbil, delivered plaques of appreciation to Dr Ali Jawad from The Iraq Britain Business Council (IBBC) and Mr Noel Kututwa on behalf of Danielle Bell, Chief, Human Rights Office, United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) and Representative, United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Representatives of ICET Organizing Committee, - Mr. Julian Eynon, Head of Business Development, from Cambridge University Press, - Dr. Tony Degazon, Regional Manager, from City & Guilds, - and Mr Amir Saadati, Executive Director of GEMS Education, virtually delivered their welcoming remarks. They wanted so much to attend the ceremony onsite, but the restrictions due to pandemic have not allowed them to travel to Iraq. They emphasised the importance of the conference to promote education and contribute to the development of the schools and teachers’ professional development in KRG and Iraq. They also highlighted their commitment to contribute education in the country more through their partnership with Stirling Schools.

May 17, 2021

ICET 2021 started with an opening ceremony on May 17, 2021 at Rotana Erbil Hotel.

Mr. Alan Hama Saeed, Minister of Education of KRI, and Mr Umed Khoshnaw, Governor of Erbil, delivered opening remarks.

Mr. James Thornton, British Consul-General of Erbil, delivered a keynote address on behalf of the British Embassy Baghdad and British Consulate General Erbil.

Government Officials, Presidents of 14 Universities that officially support ICET, Chief of United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), Representatives from ,The Iraq Britain Business Council (IBBC), and Educational Experts attended ICET Opening Ceremony.

Mr. Chris Sowton, an international educational consultant, presented a keynote entitled

“We need some space: grasping for the COVID dividend in education.”

Ms. Kim Insley, teacher educator, from University of London presented a keynote entitled

“Empowering Teachers: lessons post-covid.”