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Iraqi university rebuilds after IS 'dark age' | Iraqi university rebuilds after IS 'dark age' |
(about 11 hours later) | |
Mosul University in Iraq is rebuilding its campus and its community after surviving its own "dark age". | Mosul University in Iraq is rebuilding its campus and its community after surviving its own "dark age". |
The university was occupied for more than two years by the so-called Islamic State group - and kept open in a state of persecution and terror. | The university was occupied for more than two years by the so-called Islamic State group - and kept open in a state of persecution and terror. |
After such a traumatic experience, and the destruction caused in the battle for the city, there is still much to put right. | After such a traumatic experience, and the destruction caused in the battle for the city, there is still much to put right. |
"The central library still resembles a piece of charcoal," says Ashraf Riadh Al-Allaf, senior lecturer in the English department in Mosul. | "The central library still resembles a piece of charcoal," says Ashraf Riadh Al-Allaf, senior lecturer in the English department in Mosul. |
Yazidi students return | Yazidi students return |
He says what was once one of the biggest libraries in the Middle East went up in flames and the main administration buildings were "destroyed to the ground". | He says what was once one of the biggest libraries in the Middle East went up in flames and the main administration buildings were "destroyed to the ground". |
There is still rubble to be cleared, says Dr Al-Allaf, but the students are back and academics are rebuilding links with the international community. | There is still rubble to be cleared, says Dr Al-Allaf, but the students are back and academics are rebuilding links with the international community. |
There is a project with Lancaster University, with the UK university sharing expertise and online technology with their Iraqi academic colleagues. | There is a project with Lancaster University, with the UK university sharing expertise and online technology with their Iraqi academic colleagues. |
St Andrews University is running a "library fines donation day" this week - with the fines being donated to Book Aid International to ship books to Mosul University. | |
Earlier this year more than 3,000 books were shipped to Mosul and fundraising efforts are supporting a second shipment. | |
The Mosul Book Bridge project has been set up by academics to help replenish a library in Mosul which once housed a million books. | |
"It has taken a while, but the culture of the university is slowly resurfacing," he says. | "It has taken a while, but the culture of the university is slowly resurfacing," he says. |
In particular, he says, it's a promising sign to see minority groups, such as Christian and Yazidi students, returning to the university. | In particular, he says, it's a promising sign to see minority groups, such as Christian and Yazidi students, returning to the university. |
"Their mere presence is highly welcomed," he says, even if they are commuting into the university rather than living in Mosul. | "Their mere presence is highly welcomed," he says, even if they are commuting into the university rather than living in Mosul. |
Having a more diverse group of students feels like "going back to normal ways". | Having a more diverse group of students feels like "going back to normal ways". |
Reign of terror | Reign of terror |
But it's no simple happy ending. The university, the second biggest in Iraq with 30,000 students, had been subjected to a reign of terror. | But it's no simple happy ending. The university, the second biggest in Iraq with 30,000 students, had been subjected to a reign of terror. |
There can be few universities that have seen such brutality, with the curriculum and ethos re-shaped around the ideology and the war efforts of the IS regime. | There can be few universities that have seen such brutality, with the curriculum and ethos re-shaped around the ideology and the war efforts of the IS regime. |
Academics at the time described a climate of fear, with books being burned, spies, subjects such as literature being banned and the threat of punishment. | Academics at the time described a climate of fear, with books being burned, spies, subjects such as literature being banned and the threat of punishment. |
The university staff who remained in Mosul "were forced to go to work and reluctantly did so out of fear for losing their lives", he says. | The university staff who remained in Mosul "were forced to go to work and reluctantly did so out of fear for losing their lives", he says. |
Among them is a "desire to forget". | Among them is a "desire to forget". |
When the university was liberated it faced destruction from ground and air attacks. | When the university was liberated it faced destruction from ground and air attacks. |
"Students and staff alike are grateful to be back. However, there is still fear," says Dr Al-Allaf. | "Students and staff alike are grateful to be back. However, there is still fear," says Dr Al-Allaf. |
"The feeling of being safe and secure has diminished - and will never come back for the current generation." | "The feeling of being safe and secure has diminished - and will never come back for the current generation." |
Sense of insecurity | Sense of insecurity |
The psychological legacy of the war and the IS occupation still casts a long shadow. | The psychological legacy of the war and the IS occupation still casts a long shadow. |
The sense of insecurity is deep-rooted. He says there is a residual fear of a return of terrorism - and an irritation at post-war corruption. | The sense of insecurity is deep-rooted. He says there is a residual fear of a return of terrorism - and an irritation at post-war corruption. |
"There is little optimism," he says. | "There is little optimism," he says. |
There are also concerns that even though the conflict has ended there is still not an adequate commitment to supporting the university and equipping it with modern facilities. | There are also concerns that even though the conflict has ended there is still not an adequate commitment to supporting the university and equipping it with modern facilities. |
"Yes, we see renovation, rebuilding, and new paint on the outside, but there is still a lack of substance, and resources," says Dr Al-Allaf. | "Yes, we see renovation, rebuilding, and new paint on the outside, but there is still a lack of substance, and resources," says Dr Al-Allaf. |
Facilities are out of date and there's a lack of books and computer equipment. He says there needs to be training in new methods of teaching and a more modern approach to administration. | Facilities are out of date and there's a lack of books and computer equipment. He says there needs to be training in new methods of teaching and a more modern approach to administration. |
Universities are international places and Dr Al-Allaf says that Mosul has suffered from being isolated. | Universities are international places and Dr Al-Allaf says that Mosul has suffered from being isolated. |
"We have the capabilities, but have been cut off from the world. All we need to do is catch up," he said. | "We have the capabilities, but have been cut off from the world. All we need to do is catch up," he said. |
Building links | Building links |
Dr Al-Allaf is trying to rebuild connections with the international academic community and has been working with staff at Lancaster University in the UK. | Dr Al-Allaf is trying to rebuild connections with the international academic community and has been working with staff at Lancaster University in the UK. |
Lancaster has helped to support the teaching of linguistics at Mosul, providing mentoring for staff and students via video-conferencing, advice for PhD students and free access to an online course. | Lancaster has helped to support the teaching of linguistics at Mosul, providing mentoring for staff and students via video-conferencing, advice for PhD students and free access to an online course. |
Elena Semino, a professor at Lancaster, said academics at the University of Mosul are "working in conditions that we cannot even imagine". | Elena Semino, a professor at Lancaster, said academics at the University of Mosul are "working in conditions that we cannot even imagine". |
"The staff and students are exceptionally enterprising and enthusiastic and we will do everything we can to help them. They know that we are rooting for them," said Prof Semino. | "The staff and students are exceptionally enterprising and enthusiastic and we will do everything we can to help them. They know that we are rooting for them," said Prof Semino. |
There are signs of Iraq's universities recovering. The University of Baghdad appeared in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings of top global universities this autumn. | There are signs of Iraq's universities recovering. The University of Baghdad appeared in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings of top global universities this autumn. |
Dr Al-Allaf says academics in Iraq need to build bridges and to get support from colleagues in other countries. | Dr Al-Allaf says academics in Iraq need to build bridges and to get support from colleagues in other countries. |
"We need academic support, and making links with universities worldwide is essential," he says. | "We need academic support, and making links with universities worldwide is essential," he says. |
"The University of Mosul would love to hear from you, even if it's only to say hello." | "The University of Mosul would love to hear from you, even if it's only to say hello." |
More from Global education | More from Global education |
The editor of Global education is Sean Coughlan (sean.coughlan@bbc.co.uk). | The editor of Global education is Sean Coughlan (sean.coughlan@bbc.co.uk). |
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