In partnership with Salahaddin University-Erbil, Tishk International University hosted the 13th VESAL Conference on Educational Studies and Applied Linguistics from February 20th-21st, 2023, under the theme Exchange of Ideas in Turning Challenges into Opportunities: Innovation through Collaboration. Distinguished speakers from various sectors, including educators, researchers, linguists, policy-makers, and experts, attended the event, which was sponsored by Noorshilan Company, the main distributor of beIN SPORTS products and devices.

The conference commenced at Dedeman Erbil Hotel on the first day, and on the second day, it was hosted at Tishk International University, Faculty of Education. The conference aimed to explore the relationship between language and education, particularly in the context of EFL, and the role of innovation in addressing the challenges faced by the education sector.

The keynote speakers, Prof. Dr. Sahail M. Asassfeh from The Hashemite University, Jordan, and Prof. Dr. Himdad A. Muhammad from Salahaddin University-Erbil, Iraq, shared their insights on the interrelatedness of language and education, the concept of Corpus Linguistics, and its applications and limitations. The participants also exchanged ideas and experiences through panel discussions and presentations, focusing on a range of topics such as bilingual education, language acquisition, digital learning, and language policy.

A special session was organized by Noorshilan Company on the second day, where they showcased their latest products and devices of broadcasting. The session was well-received by the attendees, who appreciated the company’s efforts in supporting the education sector. In the closing ceremony, the organizers thanked the participants for their valuable contributions and emphasized the need for continued collaboration and exchange of ideas to develop effective solutions to address the challenges faced in the field of education and applied linguistics.

Overall, the 13th VESAL Conference on Educational Studies and Applied Linguistics was a successful event that provided a platform for stakeholders to exchange ideas and experiences, highlighting the importance of collaboration in developing innovative solutions to address the challenges faced in the education sector.