AUK Partners with BCF to Expand Support for Vulnerable Communities

The American University of Kurdistan (AUK) and the Barzani Charity Foundation (BCF) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate in the Kurdistan Region on education, student workforce preparedness, and public and private sector capacity building.

At a meeting on campus on November 14, 2023, AUK leaders welcomed a delegation from the BCF led by Ibrahim Samin, Deputy of BCF President; Abdulwahid Amin, BCF Director of Duhok Office; and Eskander Salih, Head of Monitoring and Evaluation.

Both parties agreed to collaborate to foster a culture of community commitment and volunteerism, with BCF providing opportunities for AUK students to participate in community service projects. The AUK and BCF’s common goals include advancing elementary and secondary education for vulnerable populations and supporting their continuation into higher education. The partnership will also focus on market studies to better understand the needs of the target population and the types of services and educational opportunities to be offered.

“We are proud that an institution like AUK, here in Kurdistan, has truly become a face for development in this country, especially fostering entrepreneurship in addition to its role as a higher education institution,” stated Ibrahim Samin, Deputy President of the BCF.

“As a public university, the AUK regards BCF as an ideal partner for expanding educational programs to the most vulnerable communities, to ensure their transformation into educated, skilled, and employed members of society,” said AUK President Rhodes. He added, “Our plan is to implement women entrepreneurship programs soon, as well as provide programming and coding courses for young people who cannot otherwise afford education.”

AUK is committed to providing an American-style education that focuses on transformative knowledge, inclusion and diversity, global connectedness, and life-long learning, as stated in its mission.