.WVU will welcome students from Iraq
March 8, 2010 · West Virginia University is partnering with Iraq to help educate some of the countries brightest students. The Iraqi government is setting aside nearly $5 billion for the program, which is known as the Iraq Education Initiative.
The Iraqi government is sending 10,000 of its best students each year to universities abroad to be educated. The program, which started this year, will send students to schools in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia.
Students who are admitted to universities in the United States will receive free tuition, room and board, and a monthly stipend.
According to David Stewart, WVU Dean of Students and Associate Vice President, WVU will not have to pay for anything, which will allow more scholarship money to go to students from the United States.
West Virginia University is one of 20 universities in the United States that is part of the program, known in the US as the American Universities Iraq Consortium.
The Iraqi government sent out invitations to 250 American universities but only 20 accepted.
Other universities in the program include Texas A & M, Vanderbilt, and Virginia Commonwealth University.
Stewart said WVU became involved with the program because the school is looking at increasing its international student population, and it will give WVU’s American born students a global experience.
The program is available to undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students. However, for the students wanting to enroll in graduate programs, the department in which they wish to enroll will decide if they are admitted into the program. Students wanting to enroll in an undergraduate program must meet that institution’s academic requirements.
According to Michael Wilhelm, director of the Office of International Students and Scholars, WVU has received 14 applications for graduate programs.
“The two students who have been accepted are waiting on their visas,” Wilhelm said. “I would be shocked at this point if they choose to attend another school.”
Yassin Ismaeel is a 42-year-old graduate student majoring in mass communication and journalism at WVU. He lived in Baghdad his entire life until moving to Morgantown in August 2009 to attend school.
“I came to the US to study. The US is one of the greatest loved countries and a degree is a great honor for anyone,” he said.
Ismaeel said he was nervous when he first arrived. He worried he might not be welcomed. He said that has not been the case.
Ismaeel, who is not part of the American Universities Iraq Consortium, said that students, who come to the United States with the new program may have problems adjusting to life here.
In Iraq, the schools use the British education system. The students’ courses are selected for them, and they cannot change their courses.
“I was lost and confused for about three months as I did not know about the minor and major requirements and options,” Ismaeel said.
He said the most important thing for future Iraqi students is to learn English, the American way.
“In Iraq, they use the British English language, and it was a great challenge to learn the language here,” he said. “Learning the language and the American culture will be very helpful to them.”
Ismaeel said he was very excited when he heard about the Iraq Education Initiative. He said it is great that the Iraqi government is helping its citizens to earn an education abroad, and that the program can help US and Iraqi citizens understand each other.
WVU officials agree.
“West Virginia and the people of West Virginia have sacrificed a lot since the Iraq War began in 2003,” Wilhelm said. “I think it is important we help Iraq and get involved with this program.”
WVPB
The Iraqi government is sending 10,000 of its best students each year to universities abroad to be educated. The program, which started this year, will send students to schools in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia.
Students who are admitted to universities in the United States will receive free tuition, room and board, and a monthly stipend.
According to David Stewart, WVU Dean of Students and Associate Vice President, WVU will not have to pay for anything, which will allow more scholarship money to go to students from the United States.
West Virginia University is one of 20 universities in the United States that is part of the program, known in the US as the American Universities Iraq Consortium.
The Iraqi government sent out invitations to 250 American universities but only 20 accepted.
Other universities in the program include Texas A & M, Vanderbilt, and Virginia Commonwealth University.
Stewart said WVU became involved with the program because the school is looking at increasing its international student population, and it will give WVU’s American born students a global experience.
The program is available to undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students. However, for the students wanting to enroll in graduate programs, the department in which they wish to enroll will decide if they are admitted into the program. Students wanting to enroll in an undergraduate program must meet that institution’s academic requirements.
According to Michael Wilhelm, director of the Office of International Students and Scholars, WVU has received 14 applications for graduate programs.
“The two students who have been accepted are waiting on their visas,” Wilhelm said. “I would be shocked at this point if they choose to attend another school.”
Yassin Ismaeel is a 42-year-old graduate student majoring in mass communication and journalism at WVU. He lived in Baghdad his entire life until moving to Morgantown in August 2009 to attend school.
“I came to the US to study. The US is one of the greatest loved countries and a degree is a great honor for anyone,” he said.
Ismaeel said he was nervous when he first arrived. He worried he might not be welcomed. He said that has not been the case.
Ismaeel, who is not part of the American Universities Iraq Consortium, said that students, who come to the United States with the new program may have problems adjusting to life here.
In Iraq, the schools use the British education system. The students’ courses are selected for them, and they cannot change their courses.
“I was lost and confused for about three months as I did not know about the minor and major requirements and options,” Ismaeel said.
He said the most important thing for future Iraqi students is to learn English, the American way.
“In Iraq, they use the British English language, and it was a great challenge to learn the language here,” he said. “Learning the language and the American culture will be very helpful to them.”
Ismaeel said he was very excited when he heard about the Iraq Education Initiative. He said it is great that the Iraqi government is helping its citizens to earn an education abroad, and that the program can help US and Iraqi citizens understand each other.
WVU officials agree.
“West Virginia and the people of West Virginia have sacrificed a lot since the Iraq War began in 2003,” Wilhelm said. “I think it is important we help Iraq and get involved with this program.”
WVPB
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