RESTON, Virginia – (COMMERCIAL THREAD) – As students around the world begin to return to universities after Covid-19 has put so much on hold, a few selected university students from the American University of Iraq in Sulaimani (AUIS) are starting their academic careers with a new hope, thanks to a new scholarship campaign called “We share the future”.

AUIS, a nonprofit university operated for the public good, aims to improve the lives of students and their families through a new scholarship campaign called “We Share the Future”. The scholarships are intended to provide American-style education to young people across Iraq and its Kurdistan region, regardless of their social, ethnic and sectarian background.

“I returned home to Baghdad after graduation and accepted a job at a big bank where I am responsible for compliance,” said Basma, an Iraqi AUIS graduate who recently graduated. Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration. “The strong ethics and rigor that I acquired during my studies at AUIS have helped me to be successful in my job.

The scholarships are intended to help AUIS students like Basma.

According to UNICEF, in recent years Iraq has allocated less than 6% of its national budget to the education sector, ranking it last among countries in the Middle East. Currently, $ 3.2 million Iraqi school-aged children are out of school: a disproportionate number of girls. For students who graduate from high school, access to higher education may seem out of reach or impossible. To address gender disparities among higher education graduates, half of the scholarships will be awarded to female students.

How your business can help

Seeking additional support for the scholarship fund, any business working in Iraq is eligible to contribute to the scholarships as part of its corporate social responsibility campaign. The aim is to help students prepare for quality, well-paying jobs in Iraq’s business and government sectors.

“Scholarship recipients not only have their lives, but the lives of their families, changed for the better,” said Bruce Walker Ferguson, president of AUIS. “Investing in an educated workforce through the support of the business community is essential to enable AUIS to attract students from diverse backgrounds and creates a powerful engine for both student success. and for the country’s economic growth, social benefits and regional security, ”said Ferguson.

Create impact

Caliburn International, a US-based company with a long-standing presence in Iraq with its subsidiaries Sallyport, Janus Global Operations and Comprehensive Health Services, has become the first to fund the “We Share the Future” campaign with a commitment initial $ 250,000.

Caliburn CEO Bob Stalick said, “The new scholarship program is another way to give back to the Iraqi people, where we have worked for many years and have established deep relationships and respect for the people. He noted that to help develop and sustain the future workforce in the region, it is essential that the next generation have the academic and technological education, as well as the skills of critical thinking and the spirit of collaboration. necessary to develop.

Caliburn announced in april that they intend to split into two independent companies, International acuity and Valiance Humanitaire. The company expects the split into two companies to be completed by fall 2021.

Seeking additional support

The campaign is looking for additional US companies doing business in Iraq to follow Caliburn’s lead and support new undergraduate scholarships that will further develop the educated and skilled workforce needed to rebuild and sustain the country.

Having companies working in Iraq, like Sallyport and Janus (part of the Caliburn family), in partnership with the University provides employment prospects for AUIS students after graduation. AUIS graduates have the skills and worldview needed by both their employers and their country. AUIS alumni are among the most sought-after university graduates in Iraq, with 80% employed full-time, mostly in the private sector, or pursuing graduate studies in the United States, Europe and beyond.

How to contribute

To learn more about how your company can join Caliburn by donating to support the education of the future Iraqi workforce, contact AUIS Vice President for Advancement, Liza O’Connor -Stroud at [email protected]

the AUIS has a charity created to receive corporate support: the American University of Iraq Foundation (AUIF) is recognized by the IRS as a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit charity, so all donation to “We Share the Future” are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.