Duhok, Kurdistan Region – On October 26, 2025, AUK’s College of Nursing conducted a three-day intensive training course on high-fidelity simulation, led by Mr. Thomas Boyd, Educational Services Specialist for Laerdal Medical’s Distributors in Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa (DEMA). The training was held at the Nursing Skills Simulation Lab (NSSL) on the campus of the American University of Kurdistan.
The training was organized following the College’s recent acquisition of three state-of-the-art Laerdal high-fidelity simulators: MamaAnne, Nursing Anne Simulator, and SimBaby, which were procured as part of a grant funded by the U.S. Department of State titled “Supporting American-style Higher Education in Iraq.” This strategic investment will significantly enhance clinical teaching and experiential learning for nursing students.
It is noteworthy that AUK’s College of Nursing is the fourth institution globally to acquire MamaAnne, and proudly the first in the Middle East region to integrate this advanced maternal simulator into its nursing education program. This milestone demonstrates the College’s commitment to pioneering best practices and elevating the quality of clinical education in the region.
During the training sessions, faculty members received hands-on instruction on the operation, integration, and utilization of the simulators to support competency-based learning and realistic clinical scenario delivery. The training emphasized interactive learning, simulation management, and ways to maximize the use of high-fidelity simulators to enhance student outcomes.

