Research findings from the EPP project were presented to senior figures at the British Consulate and Iraqi Kurdistan administration last month. Overarching findings, some of which drawing from research spanning the length of the three year project, formulated a set of informed policy recommendations shared by the team.
One session was held at the Rotana Hotel, to present findings and recommendations from EPP research to the British Consulate General. In a separate meeting, policy recommendations were presented to senior figures from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq’s Ministry of Education (MOE) in Erbil.
The event marked a key milestone in the EPP project. The sessions saw attendees sharing critical insights from their research, highlighting both systemic challenges and opportunities in education delivery across conflict-affected regions in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.
Professor Shanks opened the first briefing with an overview of the EPP project’s aims and achievements to date, setting the stage for a series of presentations that examined issues ranging from curriculum reform to equity in educational leadership. Each team member elaborated on key findings and proposed actionable recommendations for improving education policy and practice.
British Consulate General, Andrew Bizley MBE, praised the initiative for its evidence-based approach and relevance to ongoing UK-supported educational priorities in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
In a separate meeting at the Kurdistan Parliament, Senior advisors from the Kurdistan MOE expressed interest in applying the research to upcoming policy reviews, particularly in areas concerning curriculum development, language inclusion, and educational equity.
The event also drew participation from regional experts on school curriculum design, experts in Kurdish language content in teaching materials, and representatives from the private education sector, which continues to grow in scope and influence within the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
The EPP network’s commitment to fostering inclusive, locally grounded, and research-informed educational development was widely acknowledged during the discussions. The briefing concluded with an open forum, during which attendees engaged directly with the researchers, exploring paths to integrate the findings into national and regional education strategies.
EPP Co-founder Dr Sherko Kirmanj said it was inspiring to reflect on the scope of work conducted by the EPP project, while Professor Kelsey Shanks expressed excitement over the interest shown in their policy recommendations.
- To learn more about the key findings of the EPP Project and more detail on policy recommendations, be sure to visit the EPP website in the coming months.
