A delegation from the Southern Technical University, including the President of the University, Prof. Dr. Rabee Hashem Al-Abbasi, the Assistant President of the University for Scientific Affairs, the Deans of the Technical Institute of Basra, Al-Amarah and Nasiriyah, as well as the Dean of the Technical College of Engineering, Maysan, participated in a workshop on strengthening technical and vocational education and training programs for the construction sector in higher education institutions.
The workshop was organized by the UNESCO Regional Office for Education, Science and Culture in the Arab States, the International Labor Organization and the Monel Organization for Iraq.Technical universities participated in the building and construction disciplines.
Al-Abbasi explained in his speech the date of the founding of the Southern Technical University in 2014 and the number of its 11 formations distributed over the governorates of Basra, Maysan and Thi Qar, with six colleges and five institutes.
Pointing out that there are four institutes and one college that contains building and construction specialties, and hundreds of students graduate annually from institutes with civil and surveying specializations and specializations related to building and construction.
He explained that the university conducted a comprehensive survey of the labor market in various disciplines, where the curriculum was determined in line with the labor market and as permitted by the Ministry’s instructions.
Adding that the labor market is changing, and this requires constant follow-up with the continuous updating of curricula.
The president of the university concluded his speech that the Bologna system will be applied in the Technical Administration College of Basra, the IT department, and in the future, the Department of Building and Construction in the Technical College of Engineering, Maysan.
From their part, the organizers of the workshop indicated that it seeks to strengthen technical and vocational education and training programs for the construction sector in technical higher education institutions in Iraq, with the aim of reviewing the projects funded by the European Union and their implementation by the three organizations that include the construction field.
The workshop aims to enhance knowledge and understanding of the project outputs that were developed through technical and vocational education and training initiatives in the construction sector for technical and vocational education and training specialists at the technical university level.
To disseminate best practices in relation to the development, delivery and evaluation of competency-based curricula and to strengthen the guidelines, processes and tools developed by UNESCO and the ILO.
And finally, to increase the capabilities of individuals and institutions to develop and deliver inspiring high-quality technical and vocational education and training programs in the construction sector.
