On November 26, the University of Mosul held a ceremony to celebrate the students and faculty who participated in an online collaborative program with Lindenwood University. The ceremony marked five years of partnership between Lindenwood and the University of Mosul. Assistant Professor of History Dr. Marcus Smith attended virtually.
Smith, whose courses on Middle East history feature collaboration with Mosul students, said, “both of our universities are preparing our students with skills that will empower them to be thoughtful and successful global citizens in the future.” Each year, Smith’s students collaborate virtually with students from Mosul. Through this process, Smith says, “all of our students get to develop what I like to call ‘cultural competency’—the ability to establish quality relationships across cultures and collaborate effectively in a multicultural environment.”
Located on the banks of the Tigris River, the University of Mosul is one of Iraq’s oldest and largest educational institutions. Since beginning its partnership with Lindenwood, more than 250 University of Mosul students and 400 Lindenwood students have collaborated in online studies. In addition, the program has developed professional relationships among faculty from the two universities.
As the partnership enters its sixth year, collaboration between Lindenwood and the University of Mosul continues to reflect Lindenwood’s commitment to experiential learning. By engaging students and faculty in global dialogue, the partnership places students within an international academic community. These experiences develop cross-cultural understanding and encourage further study through experience.