The cities of Atlanta and Baghdad may seem worlds away from each other, but a partnership between the University of Baghdad (UB) [9] and Georgia State University (GSU) [10] has begun to quietly flourish.
Seeking to harness the power of peer-to-peer collaboration, the Iraq University Linkages Program [11] supports universities in the US and Iraq to establish partnerships designed to address each institution’s needs. A linkage between GSU and UB has generated dozens of revised syllabi alongside ongoing mentorship, training and other collaboration between each institution’s scholars, including a 3 week workshop for English and Education faculty at GSU [12] this July. Recently, Randy Malamud [13], Chair of the English Department at GSU [14], paid a visit to his colleagues at the University of Baghdad, and IREX sat down with the group to hear more about what the GSU-UB partnership means to them.
IREX: Please tell us about your collaboration with colleagues at your partner university?
UB Faculty: “The GSU faculty are very earnest and take seriously what we are doing. This gives us confidence […] and I am always referring to things I learned [at the summer workshops at GSU]. These relationships have made positive changes in our attitudes; it is a contagious environment, and I try to instill that same spirit in our students. I have been teaching a long time, but even I have changed my methods of teaching.”
GSU Department Chair (Malamud): “It has been tremendously rewarding for all our faculty to get to know the UB faculty. [Prior to the July workshop at GSU], we didn’t know who they were or anything about them, but 3 weeks later? Friends for life.”
UB Faculty: “One GSU staff member did a peer review of my work. GSU staff have also provided us resources and assistance beyond the ULP program workplan, working with our graduate students and helping us establish contacts and networks with other faculty. “
IREX: What is the biggest impact the partnership has had on your work so far?
Malamud: “International development and exchange is a key area in GSU’s development plan, and this is one of the bigger programs we’ve had with a significant international connection. The ULP program confirms that [international exchange] is a significant value to my department.”
UB Faculty: “On personal level you feel your whole life has changed. I’m actually able to teach students in a different way, now. Even the way we arrange our classes, for example. We used to just seat students in rows, and we now use a U-shape so that its more interactive.”
IREX: What is your long term vision for this partnership?
UB Faculty: “Cultural exchange. We will always have this link with GSU and will work for further channels of agreement, being careful to maintain these relationships. Plans are also underway to support UB students to attend GSU for PhD studies. We need these lasting relationships.”
Malamud: “There was a long line of people jealous of the fact that I got to come visit the University of Baghdad. The GSU faculty enthusiasm to work in collaboration with UB is like I have never seen before in my department. There is boundless potential for exchange.”
The Iraq University Linkages Program [11] is funded by the US Embassy in Baghdad [15] and administered by IREX.