Rethink Education and Science in Iraq (RESI)

RESI is a university cooperation between the University of Graz, the University of Mosul in Iraq and TU Dortmund University in Germany, which aims to support the University of Mosul in its academic reconstruction. Various activities and formats aimed at students, teachers and researchers from different academic disciplines promote academic and intercultural exchange between our universities and contribute to academic reconstruction and peace and reconciliation work at the University of Mosul and in the region. These include

• Participatory conferences for up to 400 students (in presence and as an online format) to strengthen academia, dialogue, democratization and reconciliation;
• Further education, training and discussion events aimed primarily at junior academic staff to promote academic and university didactic skills and support international connectivity;
• Open formats (including creative competitions, exchanges, social media projects, etc.) to encourage students in the region to engage freely and creatively with selected topics (currently the UN Sustainable Development Goals).
• Visiting up to 60 young academics a year at TU Dortmund University as part of the Connect for Change and BSF - Building a Sustainable Future projects to provide insights into the European higher education landscape and support professionalization and internationalization;
• Partnership-based cooperation and project work in the heterogeneous coordination team to strengthen the leadership, planning and communication skills of managers;

All activities have been implemented under the academic leadership of Prof. Dr. Heike Wendt since 2017 with generous financial support from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). The RESI project is managed by TU Dortmund University.

Publications/Publications:

• Wendt, H. (2020). University teaching in crisis regions. After the IS: The University of Mosul at a difficult new beginning. In: Continuing education: Journal for Basics, Practice and Trends. 3. 2-5.
• Symeonidis, V., Senger, F., Wendt, H. Zedan, A, Salim Dawood, S. & Jabrail, F. (forthcoming). Teacher education in conflict-affected societies The case of Mosul University after the demise of the Islamic State. In: Madalińska-Michalak; J. (Eds). Quality in Teaching and Teacher Education. International Perspectives from a Changing World. Brill
• Wendt, H., Senger, F., Singh, A., Alfaidhi, A. & Alnumman, R. (forthcoming). Risks and Drivers of Success in Higher Education Partnerships in Conflict Contexts: A German-Iraqi Partnership in Times of Isolation and Displacement and First Steps Towards Recovery. In J. Wolf, K. Laing & K. Otrel-Cass (Eds). Risks in Partnerships in Education. Springer