Close
The Nahrein Network’s Farewell Conference in Baghdad
By Zainab, on 25 June 2025
On 25 and 26 April 2025, the Nahrein Network organised a farewell conference, after eight years of working in Iraq. The conference, organised in Baghdad, saw over 120 participants attend, most of whom were active members of the network. Those include visiting scholars, grant recipients and also beneficiaries of the network’s numerous research and capacity-building programmes.
Professor Eleanor Robson, director of the Nahrein Network, stated that Iraq has witnessed progressive transformation since the start of the programme in 2017 and that all involved should be proud of their achievements and contributions to Iraq’s higher education, research capacity and cultural heritage development.
The two-day conference programme saw participation from over thirty research institutions and universities in Iraq, including from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and from neighbouring countries. Themes included those pertaining to post-conflict recovery, living traditions, threatened heritage, building professional and knowledge networks, higher education capacity building and the impact of visiting scholarships to the UK. The conference consisted of panel discussion and presentations, which showcased Iraq’s rich and diverse cultural heritage and the nature of programmes and activities supported over the past few years.
Some of the projects discussed included those concerning Iraq’s water-based cultural heritage, research concerning museums, cultural minorities and the impact and legacies of conflict on Iraq’s cultural property and tangible heritage and the impact of investment on the country’s archaeological sites.
At the end of the conference on 26 April, participants were invited to a meal of masgouf fish, at the Abu Nuwas based Al Baghdadi restaurant.
The conference ended with a call to continue the work started by the Nahrein Network and to strengthen project-based and institutional relationships and collaborations. The Nahrein Network formally comes to a close at the end of August 2025.
One Response to “The Nahrein Network’s Farewell Conference in Baghdad”
- 1
It has been a privilege and a valuable opportunity collaborating with you at Nahrain Network, where we illuminate the cherished and vibrant aspects of our nation. Working together has prompted a reevaluation and exploration of our rich history, culture, and heritage. Additionally, it has been a pleasure encountering a diverse group of educators and academics with varied backgrounds, origins, and cultures.
Thank you all