The University of Northampton’s Vice Chancellor made history during a trip to the Middle East this week.

Professor Nick Petford became the first Vice Chancellor of a British university to visit Iraq since the 2003 US-led invasion, when he was guest of partner institution, University of Babylon.

The universities struck up a partnership in 2012, working together in the areas of computing and healthcare, with Babylon students having the chance to split their time between Iraq and Northampton as they study for degrees, master’s qualifications and PhDs.

Professor Petford said: “The aim of the visit is to further strengthen the partnership by expanding into other areas of joint working, including geography and environmental sciences, English and teaching children with special educational needs. We are also in discussion with the ministry about how to promote social enterprise across the country.”

So far, 85 Babylon students have studied with the University of Northampton, with the first cohort of 30 graduating in 2016 in the presence of the Iraqi Ambassador to the UK

Out of the total funded undergraduates from Babylon, the Iraqi government is paying for eight fully funded PhD students to undertake research at the University of Northampton.