10th June 2026
The Center for Learning Innovations and Customized Knowledge Solutions (CLICKS), Dubai, UAE, and VisionAID, Erbil, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishing a strategic partnership aimed at supporting higher education development, institutional transformation, innovation, and capacity building across the Kurdistan Region and the Republic of Iraq.
The agreement was signed on the 10th of June 2026 by Dr. Narimane Hadj-Hamou, Founder and CEO of CLICKS, and Prof. Dr. Mohammed Hussein Ahmed, CEO of VisionAID.
VisionAID is an independent, non-governmental, and non-profit organization based in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq that works to promote sustainable development, strengthen international cooperation, and address emerging global challenges through innovative partnerships and evidence-based initiatives. Through its work in education, research, governance, human development, technology, artificial intelligence, and sustainable development, VisionAID serves as a bridge between local and international communities and partners.
The partnership brings together VisionAID’s expertise in development programming, stakeholder engagement, youth empowerment, and project implementation with CLICKS’ extensive experience in higher education consulting, institutional effectiveness, quality assurance, leadership development, strategic planning, student success, research, and innovation in teaching and learning.
Through this collaboration, both organizations will work together to support universities, governmental entities, development organizations, and other stakeholders through a range of initiatives, including capacity-building programs, leadership development, strategic planning, quality assurance and accreditation support, student success and employability initiatives, research projects, policy dialogues, conferences, workshops, and institutional transformation programs.
The partnership will focus on several strategic areas, including:
- Student support, academic advising, and employability;
- Leadership development and governance;
- Strategic planning and institutional effectiveness;
- Innovation in learning, teaching, and digital transformation;
- Quality assurance, accreditation, and continuous improvement;
- Research and evidence-based development initiatives.
The MoU also provides a framework for the joint development of projects, research studies, funding proposals, conferences, professional development programs, and advisory services aimed at strengthening higher education and development ecosystems across Iraq and the wider region.
Commenting on the partnership, Dr. Narimane Hadj-Hamou, Founder and CEO of CLICKS, said:“We are delighted to partner with VisionAID at a time when higher education institutions and development organizations across Iraq are increasingly seeking innovative, evidence-based, and sustainable solutions to address complex challenges and support future growth. This partnership reflects a shared commitment to strengthening institutional capacity, advancing quality and innovation, developing leadership, and creating meaningful opportunities for knowledge exchange and professional development. We look forward to working closely with VisionAID and our partners across Iraq to support institutional transformation and contribute to the development of a resilient, future-ready higher education sector.”
The Memorandum of Understanding will remain in effect for an initial period of three years and establishes a foundation for long-term collaboration between the two organizations in support of sustainable development, academic excellence, institutional resilience, and innovation across Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.
