09 January, 2025 (Thursday)
BBS News
Baghdad, Iraq. January 9th, 2024: The Texas International Education Consortium (TIEC) is partnering with the Baghdad Business School (BBS) to prepare Iraqi youth to start their own businesses or find jobs in the private sector. The two organizations were recently awarded a one-year grant from the U.S. Department of State to strengthen the academic integrity, capacity, and effectiveness of the BBS business program.
Through this partnership, TIEC will enhance the BBS business program by strengthening the curriculum, training instructors in modern pedagogy, and advising BBS toward international certification of its business program.
“Baghdad Business School is very pleased to partner with TIEC through this project,” stated BBS Director Christine van den Toorn. “Strengthening our business program and instructional capabilities will enable more Iraqi youth, especially women, to increase their understanding of international business and improve key business skills that are directly related to job opportunities in the private sector. Enhancing our institutional capacity will allow BBS to grow and prepare more Iraqi youth for their careers.”
Iraq’s population is one of the youngest in the world, with one-third between 15 and 29 years of age. Youth unemployment sits at about 36%, but rates for young women are as high as 65%. Many university graduates lack the English language proficiency and business skills needed to obtain jobs in the private sector. To address this skills gap, BBS offers a one-year Business Foundations Program in English language, business, and soft and professional skills that prepares Iraqi youth for work in the private sector. Four cohorts have completed the program to date, with women making up more than 50 percent of the graduates. Nearly 100 percent of graduates have started their own businesses, found jobs, or advanced their careers in the private sector.
"TIEC is excited to continue to be a part of BBS's mission of providing quality business education to Iraqi youth," said TIEC's Director of Programs, Steven Kroman. "Experts within our consortia are poised to further enhance the educational outcomes of BBS students and ultimately to provide them with the skills necessary to succeed in the private sector."
TIEC is a Texas-based consortium of 59 public and private universities and community colleges from Texas and throughout the world, with an ethos to advance international partnerships, collaboration, and exchanges. TIEC facilitates and fosters international education programs and partnerships by, with, and for its university members. Since its founding in 1985, TIEC has provided educational assistance and consulting services for governments and institutions in more than 40 countries, across five continents. TIEC is a recognized expert with extensive experience working with governments and institutions of education to improve course and degree program quality and responsiveness, and to foster equity and inclusion.
For more information about this project, contact:
TIEC: info@tiec.org www.tiec.org BBS: info@iraqed.org www.bbs.iq
