WELCOME: The Iraq Consul General, Ambassador Zaid Noori (right), meets the University’s Pro Vice-Chancellor, International, Professor David Taylor
WELCOME: The Iraq Consul General, Ambassador Zaid Noori (right), meets the University’s Pro Vice-Chancellor, International, Professor David Taylor

Engineering students are top of class in consulate visit

International students at the University of Huddersfield showcased their engineering talents last week as they were paid a special visit from the Consul General of the Republic of Iraq.

Ambassador Zaid Noori headed to the West Yorkshire educational establishment alongside other senior officials from the Iraqi consulate after an invite from the University’s Director of International Development Andrew Mandebura.

Mr Mandebura had visited the Iraqi Consulate in Manchester earlier in the year and spoke of the excellent work, students from Iraq are doing in West Yorkshire.

Explaining more about the visit, he said: “The open discussion session was an excellent opportunity for current students, who are sponsored by the Iraqi government, to give feedback about their experiences on campus and it was a huge success.

“We thank Ambassador Noori for taking the time out of his busy schedule to come and visit the University’s Iraqi student population as well as seeing some of their excellent research.”

STUDY: Dr Hussam Muhamedsalih gave a presentation to Ambassador Zaid Noori and the Iraqi delegates about the University’s EPSRC Centre
STUDY: Dr Hussam Muhamedsalih gave a presentation to Ambassador Zaid Noori and the Iraqi delegates about the University’s EPSRC Centre

After being greeted by the University’s Pro Vice-Chancellor, Professor David Taylor, the tour progressed to the campus’s EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Advanced Metrology – globally respected for its expertise in the science of measurement.

Here, Ambassador Noori, whose background is in civil engineering, heard a presentation from EPSRC researcher Dr Hussam Muhamedsalih about the Centre’s award-winning research into creating the next generation of measurement technology.

Dr Muhamedsalih highlighted the development of an innovative Wavelength Scanning Interferometer (WSI), which is used to measure micro and nano geometry and surface topography, even in exceptionally harsh environmental conditions.

The device won the prestigious 2014 Manufacturing Technology category at the annual Innovation Awards run by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET).

Ambassador Noori then met award-winning Iraqi PhD student Mothana Hassan, who explained his doctoral research in the field of interferometry.

The quality of his research led to Mothana receiving a scholarship from Iraq’s Ministry of Higher Education and was presented with a certificate by the Iraqi Cultural Attaché at a special ceremony in London.

The tour finished with Ambassador Noori being introduced to members of the Iraqi Student Society.   Thirty Iraqi students attended the meeting where there was an open discussion session over lunch.