THE South Korean government has contributed $200,000 to the International Fund for Higher Education in Iraq, established by the Qatar Foundation for Education,  

THE South Korean government has contributed $200,000 to the International Fund for Higher Education in Iraq, established by the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF) and Unesco.

Ambassador Chung Mun Su handed over the donation to chairman of the QF committee on the directorate of the Fund, Bader Abdullah al-Darwish, at a ceremony at the embassy yesterday.

South Korea is the second country to contribute to the Fund, which was set up with an initial donation of $15mn from Qatar in October last year.

"The Korean government has been actively committed to the efforts for the restoration of peace and rehabilitation in Iraq from the beginning," the envoy said.

South Korea has been pursuing consolidated international co-operation to provide assistance in medicine, construction and other humanitarian sectors in Iraq.

"For instance, the Korean government had announced in October last year that it would contribute up to $260mn for Iraq over five years," he recalled.

The ambassador ascribed his government's gesture to the close relationship with Qatar and said it was in appreciation of the country's initiative to expand regional co-operation through providing assistance for reconstruction in Iraq.

For his part, al-Darwish said: "This mission has been made possible only because of the initiative and support from QF chairperson and wife of HH the Emir, HH Sheikha Mozah Nasser al-Misnad."

Despite the instability in Iraq, the Committee has made great progress and achieved many of the objectives, he said.

The Committee has provided opportunities for Iraqi faculty members to attend training programmes in European and Middle Eastern universities.

Internet connection to Iraqi universities and supply of computers, science equipment and books are part of the agenda.

"Around 100 faculty members are currently undergoing training at various universities and the lab equipment and books are scheduled to be delivered in a fortnight," he said.

The Committee chairman pointed out that Sheikha Mozah has provided seats to a group of gifted Iraqi students at the branch campuses of Weill Cornell Medical College and Texas A&M University in QF's Education City.

"The total amount received by the Fund is about $16.5mn so far and further contributions are expected from more countries and some international organisations," al-Darwish said.

Expressing his gratitude, newly appointed Iraqi Ambassador Sadik al-Rikabi said that his country was looking forward to stability and an elected government and parliament.

Assistant Foreign Minister for Follow-Up Affairs HE Mohamed Abdulla M al-Rumaihi, International Organisations, Treaties and Conferences director Adel al-Khal, Unesco regional director Dr Hamad bin Saif al-Hammami and QF board member and Qatar Industrial Development Bank general manager Dr Sheikh Hamad bin Nasser al-Thani attended the ceremony.

A number of ambassadors, including Chase Untermeyer (US), Wenceslao J O Quirolgico (Philippines), Horie Masahiko (Japan), Rafael Matos (Spain), A L M Yoosuf (Sri Lanka), Naseer Ahmed Noor (Afghanistan) and Shyamananda Suman (Nepal) also attended.

The Fund envisages providing immediate and long-term assistance for reconstruction of the higher education network in Iraq. The total cost is expected to top $2bn.

It is estimated that Iraq's 20 universities and 47 technical colleges and institutes cater to the needs of some 300,000 students.