Within the framework of the RISE project, “Reinforcing Integration of Skills for Employability and Internationalisation in Kurdistan region of Iraq” led by UNIMED, and particularly in the framework of the capacity-building activity within WP3, led by the University of Murcia (UMU) with the collaboration of the International University of Rome (UNINT), a series of six webinars started on October 7th and will run until November 12th, 2025.
Framed as the RISE MasterClass, the series is open to university staff from the 7 Kurdish partner universities. This MasterClass seeks to empower Kurdish Higher Education Institutions to adopt the RISE Synergic Roadmap, reinforcing the capacity of Kurdish staff in working together in a systemic way, and empowering universities to play an active role in the local and global scenarios for institutional and societal sustainable development.
How the MasterClass works
The MasterClass is addressed to educators, administrative personnel and student leaders— with the aim to enhance their skills and competences in several topics related to internationalisation, career development and employability in general. The specific targets involved are International Relations Offices (IROs) and Career Development Centres (CDCs) from the Kurdistan region of Iraq partners universities.
The webinar series will broaden the capabilities of these key university offices while creating additional opportunities for students and graduates; in short, it consists of a capacity-building pathway designed to turn strategy into day-to-day services for learners and communities.
Structurally, the course unfolds across six modules that examine complementary dimensions of internationalisation, career development and employability. Each module blends live, synchronous webinars with a repository of supporting resources—readings, articles and slide decks—so that participants can revisit concepts, deepen understanding and bring evidence-based practices back to their institutions.
The webinars calendar is as follows:
- Webinar 1. October 7, 2025 – managed by UNINT: Internationalisation of higher education at the International University of Rome: strategies, strengths and practices
- Webinar 2. October 15, 2025 – managed by UMU: Soft skills for entrepreneurship: empowering university practices
- Webinar 3. October 22, 2025 – managed by UNINT: Involving the academic staff: international collaborations (where to start, how to provide support, how to identify opportunities – including how to lay the groundwork for mobility schemes)
- Webinar 4. October 28, 2025 – managed by UMU: Management and development of CDCs
- Webinar 5. November 5, 2025 – managed by UNINT: Internationalisation at Home – how do we do it? Complementing different internationalisation practices in a comprehensive strategy
- Webinar 6: November 12, 2025 – managed by UMU: University-Business collaboration
RISE project at #Erasmus Days
The Webinar 2 of the MasterClass is also framed within the #ErasmusDays campaign, the global celebration that promotes Erasmus+ programmes and projects. By aligning the webinar with #ErasmusDays, the partners will showcase the project’s aims and early results, amplify participant voices, and encourage wider engagement with Erasmus+ opportunities across the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
The online event will take place on October 15, 2025 at 4.00 pm (Erbil time) on Zoom platform. The event will not be open to the general public.
About Erasmus Days
The #ErasmusDays are an international six-day celebration of the Erasmus+ programme. During these days, people throughout the world are invited to come together and either organise or participate at events that celebrate the projects and opportunities proposed by Erasmus+. For students, teachers, trainers, professionals and more generally, all citizens, the #ErasmusDays represent a unique moment to promote the multitude of benefits that result from the programme. In 2025, the 9th edition of the #ErasmusDays will take place from the 13th until the 18th October.