The Department of Scholarships and Cultural Relations at the University of Information Technology and Communications, in collaboration with the Continuous Education Center, organized an online lecture titled “Erasmus+ Grant Opportunities for Researchers, Staff, and Teachers.” The lecture was delivered by the department’s Director, lect. Dr. Dalia Abdul Hadi, and Erasmus+ Unit Director, Assist. Lect. Tahira Makki AbdulKarim. It aimed to introduce the academic and research opportunities the program offers to Iraqi universities and their members.

The lecture introduced the Erasmus+ program and its origins in 1987, tracing its development to the current 2021–2027 cycle, which has a budget of €26.2 billion. It also reviewed the participating and partner countries, the program’s regional divisions, and Iraq’s place in Region 7 (the Middle East).

The session also covered international mobility opportunities under KA171 for teaching staff, researchers, and administrative employees, including how to apply and the duration of these opportunities. It also explained how to contact European universities and establish bilateral agreements between academic institutions.

The lecture included an overview of Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE) projects, with examples of projects implemented in Iraq and the participation of several Iraqi universities. It also outlined the key steps involved in designing projects, developing academic partnerships, preparing applications, and meeting annual application deadlines. These opportunities can help strengthen the university’s and its members’ participation in international academic and research cooperation programs.