After being awarded a one –year Erasmus Marhaba scholarship program, four students from Koya University are now studying at the University of Minho in Portugal. The students point out the significance of Marhaba Project and deem it an ideal opportunity to study in Europe. They also refer to the experience they have gained and say that they have successfully made use of the situation and consider it a golden opportunity to learn. This report reveals their new life and situation in Portugal. 

All is going well 

The four students are enjoying their new life there. Talking about their living conditions and their academic life, Dana Ghafar, one of the students says, “Everything is going well with us; the staff of Minho University are very helpful and they offer their full cooperation to foreign students. We have been able to achieve a good academic level among our classmates.” He also states that apart from studying, they are trying to create a positive perception and image about Kurds among their foreign classmates and colleagues. 

Acclimatization is by no means easy and human beings often find it difficult to get used to a completely new environment within a short period of time. Koya University students studying in Portugal find themselves in a completely new environment; however, they feel quiet comfortable because of the good treatment they receive from the university and the people there. Dana says, “We soon got used to the situation.” One of the amazing experiences the students have witnessed during their stay in Portugal was the help and kind treatment of the Portuguese people. 

Gaining experience can be best achieved through interaction with people and through real life. In addition to academic benefits, these students have also enriched their life experience. In this respect, Dana says, "In addition to academic advantages, we have gained a lot of new experience in terms of learning about the culture, lifestyle, advancements and civilization of Portugal and other European countries; we have already visited several well-known countries like Germany, Spain, Netherlands because Portugal itself is a European country." Kurdistan Region has been undergoing unstable political and economic situations so that the government is currently unable to support the students who study abroad; therefore, Dana says, "With Kurdistan Region facing such hard crises, gaining all this experience would have been impossible if it was not for Marhaba Project." 

ِA dream come true project 

It has been two years since the government has suspended its financial support to students who study abroad because of the current financial crisis facing the Region. The Erasmus Mundus Project is a golden opportunity for Koya University staff members to secure seats in one of the European countries. Regarding this, Dana says “In such volatile political and economic situation that faces Kurdistan Region, we can call this project a dream come true project.” Having their dream come true, Dana expresses his and his friends' gratitude to Dr. Dilan M. Rostam, Vice President of Koya University, who helped them get this chance. 

This year again Marhaba project has opened its door for new applicants. On Tuesday 24th November 2015 at 11 o'clock pm at the LT1000 hall of Koya University Presidency, a seminar was held for all the students and teachers of Koya University by Dr. Dilan M. Rostam, the University's Vice President for Scientific and Postgraduate Affairs where he explained Marhaba project and the practical steps for application. For more information click here.