The international MOVE project, aimed at enhancing the alignment of higher education outcomes with labor market needs, was officially launched at the University of Sulaymaniyah in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, with the participation of 11 international partners from Italy, Spain, the Kurdistan Region, and Yemen. The launch event took place on February 14–15, 2026.
Selah Foundation participated in the launch activities, represented by Mr. Ali Hassan Bashamakh, CEO of Foundation, and Ms. Mona Al-Omari, MOVE Project Manager in Yemen, reflecting the Foundation’s active role in supporting education development and strengthening its linkage with labor market demands.
The project aims to align university curricula with labor market requirements in Yemen and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq by enhancing academic programs and equipping graduates with the practical and theoretical skills necessary to improve employability opportunities, support sustainable development, and strengthen international academic partnerships among Yemeni, Iraqi, and European universities.
The project brings together several academic and development institutions, including the University of Aden, Hadhramout University, Silah Development Foundation, four universities from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, the Mediterranean Universities Union (UNIMED), Università della Calabria (Italy), and Universidad de Murcia (Spain).
In this context, Ms. Mona Al-Omari highlighted the pivotal role of Selah in bridging academia and the labor market by supporting curriculum development, strengthening practical training programs, promoting green entrepreneurship and innovation, and conducting specialized research and analysis to anticipate future labor market needs.
The launch event concluded with the honoring of participating partners by Mr. Ali Hassan Bashamakh, in the presence of prominent academic and diplomatic figures, including Dr. Sherwan Omar, Vice President of the University of Sulaymaniyah; Dr. Mohammed Hussein Ahmed, Director General of Quality at the Ministry of Higher Education in the Kurdistan Region; the Italian Consul General in Erbil; Ms. Silvia Marchionni, Project Manager at UNIMED; and the Presidents of the University of Aden and Hadhramout University.
