Local Consultant

The British Council wishes to gain a deeper understanding of the emerging internationalisation agenda for Higher Education in Iraq and its alignment with UK priorities and UK capacity to support this agenda. 

Proposals are invited from suitably qualified researchers or research teams/organizations based in Iraq, to undertake a consultation and mapping exercise for the internationalisation of Higher Education in Iraq and the ecosystem which supports it.  The research should focus on 20 universities (one from each governorate, including two from Baghdad). These universities should be drawn mainly from the public sector but can also include private universities.  

1Overview of the British Council

The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. The British Council builds connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and other countries through arts and culture, education and the English language.

We work in two ways – directly with individuals to transform their lives, and with governments and partners to make a bigger difference for the longer term, creating benefit for millions of people all over the world.

We help young people to gain the skills, confidence and connections they are looking for to realise their potential and to participate in strong and inclusive communities. We support them to learn English, to get a high-quality education and to gain internationally recognised qualifications. Our work in arts and culture stimulates creative expression and exchange and nurtures creative enterprise.

We connect the best of the UK with the world and the best of the world with the UK. These connections lead to an understanding of each other's strengths and of the challenges and values that we share. This builds trust between people in the UK and other nations which endures even when official relations may be strained.

We work on the ground in more than 100 countries. In 2019-20 we connected with 80 million people directly and with 791 million overall, including online and through our broadcasts and publications.

Founded in 1934, we are a UK charity governed by Royal Charter, a public corporation and a UK public body. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is our sponsoring department.

2Introduction and Background 

The British Council, through its Higher Education programme in Iraq, is seeking to build new connections between Higher Education institutions in Iraq and the UK, to support Iraq’s national priorities around economic diversification and specifically the contribution that the Higher Education sector can make to the development of a non-oil economy, and to engage the talents of the country’s large youthful population. 

Over the last few years, there has been limited British Council Higher Education programming in Iraq due to conflict and instability. Now that Iraq is starting to transition from humanitarian emergency to a new phase of development (‘durable solutions’) there is a need for us to develop new insight, networks and programming models that are relevant to current needs and interests. 

The rehabilitation of the Iraq’s Higher Education system, already undermined by many years of under-investment and relative isolation, is hampered by a mixture of poor and damaged infrastructure along with limited capacity in terms of planning, policy and management. Iraq’s education system, like the country as a whole, has been badly affected by years of economic sanctions and a series of devastating wars, from the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s to the 2003 U.S-led invasion of Iraq and the civil wars which followed. The legacy of these conflicts continues to affect the country to this day.

There is little contemporary research or data available on activities, trends and interests within Iraq’s Higher Education sector that both captures and critically engages with the main challenges and opportunities faced by academics and senior university staff working in Iraq. This is largely due to the massive disruption caused by the war with Daesh (ISIL) from 2014-17, mass political protests in 2019-20 and more recently the Covid-19 pandemic.  

In its latest vision for 2021 Iraq’s Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research has pointed to internationalisation as one of its main priorities for the university sector, with a view to signing new international agreements and moving Iraqi universities up the main international rankings (Times, QS, Shanghai). The Ministry has also expressed strong interest in improving quality standards and academic accreditation. The British Council believes that internationalisation is an area where the UK sector can help Iraq through the sharing of relevant experience and this, in turn, will help Iraq deliver against its other priorities such as research, labour market alignment and university support for national development goals. 

To guide our support in this area, clearer information is required to help us understand where Iraq’s HE sector stands in relation to its internationalisation ambitions and – recognising the challenges posed by Iraq’s unique operating environment – how it can be supported to grow and develop further in this area through partnerships with UK universities and UK sector bodies.

As a first step in this process, the British Council wishes to contract a research partner to complete a consultation and mapping exercise of the current situation within Iraq’s university sector and the scope for internationalisation to strengthen the sector and the socio-economic contributions it makes to Iraq.  This exercise will provide an overview of the sector’s main trends and interests as well as helping to identify the most significant opportunities and challenges for successful growth. This insight should then inform recommendations as to how best the UK can support development of Iraq’s university system through greater internationalisation. 

The research 

The research project has three main objectives:

I.To create a new body of evidence about the internationalisation of Higher Education in Iraq by gathering data for use as a baseline in support of future work. This data will reveal what is happening and where is it taking place; it will show key areas of strength and growth within the sector; it will show the main challenges and barriers faced by the sector; it will identify needs of those working in the sector and what support is available to them as well as the main gaps. 

II.To engage academics, university leaders and policy makers in a conversation around the internationalisation of HE in Iraq, its value and its potential. By conducting this research in a consultative and collaborative way, a broad network of key stakeholders will be brought together to share information and insights which will help deepen understanding around concepts and approaches – from within Iraq and outside – that can support the development of a thriving diverse economy in Iraq.

III.To identify the role UK Higher education could potentially play in supporting universities as well as the sector as a whole to internationalise.  By conducting research with UK universities into their interest and commitment to Iraqi HE and the areas and extent to which they would be willing to engage. This could include for example the potential for joint research, research capacity building, joint teaching, curriculum development, engagement with industry, improving graduate outcomes, quality assessment, university leadership (in particular women in leadership) etc. 

The appointed supplier will be expected to provide a mapping of the existing context of (and scope for) internationalisation in Iraqi HE aiming to connect with at least one main university from each of the 18 governorates outside of Baghdad and 2 from within the Baghdad governorate.  This research should be delivered through a combination of in-situ qualitative research and desk-based analysis. This may be supplemented by other instruments to gather quantitative information.   

The research findings will be used to provide British Council with: a baseline snapshot of the current situation and key stakeholders in this sector; and recommendations on key areas for potential programme and partnership development where the British Council (and other UK partners) could best support growth of IHE in Iraq. 

Research outputs:

A.A detailed methodology for the consultation and mapping exercise – this should be proposed by the supplier and then refined and finalised in consultation with the British Council (relevant sector / geographical teams). This consultation with the British Council will include agreement on the universities to be targeted.

B.Delivery of detailed report, as per the methodology agreed with the British Council, covering the target universities. This report should include: 

oquantitative data on the extent and ambitions for the internationalisation of HE in Iraq including an analysis of:

the main / most active universities  

the profile, size and nature of IHE in Iraq

estimated output (actual and potential) of Iraq’s IHE ambitions

oinformation on key stakeholders and influential sector actors – roles they are playing, level of expertise, resourcing and funding, access to international markets and collaboration, primary interests, links to the UK 

oinformation on UK interest, capabilities, and commitment to support initiatives – what are the interest and capabilities of UK universities to support IHE in Iraq, agencies and government departments views and priorities, level of potential commitment

oa road map for the internationalisation of the HE sector in Iraq. The road map should be two-fold: 

A strategic plan for target universities that sets out desired outcomes and the milestones needed to reach them.

An action plan for the British Council to shape and inform its programme of support for the internationalisation ambitions of Iraq’s university sector.   

oRecommendations should address the four levels of British Council’s global core offer for Higher Education work – Enabling Research, Internationalising Higher Education Institutions, Strengthening Higher Education Systems, and Enhancing Student outcomes – and give an assessment of the areas that offer the best potential for impact and success. 

oThe inclusion of case studies that ‘bring to life’ and enhance key insights in the report emerging from the consultation and mapping exercise would be useful eg. 3-5 case studies drawn from Iraqi HE examples. 

C.A presentation of the research findings targeting key stakeholders who have been engaged with the consultation and mapping exercise.  The methodology should include but not necessarily be limited to the following: 

-facilitation of at least two face-to-face workshops / forum events (one per focal city) where key stakeholders are able to:

oengage with the research / mapping process

ogrow their understanding of IHE concepts and comparable international experiences

o build new networks / connections 

-qualitative fieldwork to map the activity and estimate the scale, scope and ambition of internationalisation in Iraq through meetings / interviews with key stakeholders This may include some of the entities mentioned below.

-quantitative data collection through questionnaire/surveys and interviews with sector stakeholders including academics, leaders, policymakers and students, local and national government officials, universities/support institutions and local and international NGOs as relevant. 

-meetings/focus group discussions to better understand the profile of stakeholders operating in the International HE sector, their needs and interests and the opportunities and challenges they are facing.

This research will require travel to Iraq – Baghdad and Erbil – to deliver face to face workshops and interviews. For international researchers, British Council will facilitate the researchers’ entry to Iraq and manage the in-country duty of care (incl. security). 

Research audience

The primary purpose of the research is to support British Council’s programme development.  However, the research must be accessible for the wider Higher Education community, namely:

•Academics and university leaders

•Iraqi government and policy makers

•Other researchers

•International organisations with an interest in IHE development 

Research format

The research report should, at the very least, include the following sections:

•Executive summary

•Context

•Methodology

•Presentation of data and analysis 

•High resolution visuals and images that will support key points

•Recommendations

The exact format and methodology will be agreed between the supplier and the British Council in the project inception phase.

Working with a local researcher / expert

For UK researchers/international research teams, we expect collaboration with a local researcher who can provide expertise on Iraqi context, connect through their local network and provide language support. Where a bidder already has access to a trusted and suitable local consultant ‘on the ground’ in Iraq, please indicate this in your proposal. Where this is not the case, the British Council will run a selection process for suitably qualified local researchers from amongst our in-country network and will cover their costs. Once the contract is awarded, the British Council will host a kick-off meeting to brief both partners and their team. 

Risk and security

The British Council will ensure duty of care for the researcher(s) while in country by:

•Organising airport pick-up and drop-off (for international only) 

•Providing a security detail throughout the period of the work in Iraq

•Providing permanent staff support

•Accommodation in security and safety assessed and approved venues

The costs related to security management as described below will be covered by the British Council. In the past, the British Council in Iraq has hosted a number of international visits and is currently running several research exercises with multiple UK consultants traveling to the country.

Ideal Profile of Supplier

11 Project Timescales

11.1 Subject to any changes notified to potential suppliers by the British Council in accordance with the Project Conditions, the following timescales shall apply to this process: 

Activity Date / time 

RFP Issued to bidding suppliers 04.10.2021 

Deadline for clarification questions (Clarification Deadline) 17.10.2021 

British Council to respond to clarification questions 20.10.2021 

Deadline for submission of Proposals by potential suppliers (Response Deadline) 21.10.2021 

Final Decision 27.10.2021 

Contract concluded with winning supplier 01.11.2021 

Please send the application to Iraq@britishcouncil.org