American universities open to Iraqis

American University of Iraq-Sulaimaniya Baghdad - Jaafar Nassrawi American have opened their doors to Iraqi students and researchers who wish to participate in an exchange programme with the Unites States. The embassy said: “This programme will allow students and Iraqi academics to develop their skills and meet their colleagues in the USA.” The statement added: "This programme will provide 170 Iraqi high school and undergraduate students with a unique educational exchange experience in the summer of 2013.  The IYLEP undergraduate and high school programmes together have provided invaluable leadership and educational opportunities for approximately 1000 students since its creation in 2007.  These programs work to support the goals of the U.S.-Iraq Strategic Framework Agreement to enhance mutual understanding and strengthen the connections between the people of the United States and Iraq, and have created a cadre of young Iraqi leaders who are inspiring and impacting their communities. The Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program for undergraduate students, sponsored by the United States Government and administered by Meridian International Center, provides six weeks of fully-funded leadership training and classroom instruction to talented and dedicated students from Iraq.  The institutes, hosted at four universities throughout the United States, will focus on one of the relevant thematic topics: Public Policy; Entrepreneurship and Community Development; Information Technology and Media; and Leadership, Law, and Social Justice.  Each institute will consist of classroom instruction, field trips, site visits, community service, leadership training, conflict resolution training, and cultural exchanges.