**Acknowledgements**

*in Iraq (REXNet)* project. The project idea is to create a remote experimentation network to use online experiments, which are developed and located in the United States universities for serving teachers and students in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. In conclusion, it has been accepted for implementation in collaboration with Oklahoma State University (OSU). In general, REXNet project aims to develop a virtual lab, which is based on virtual environment "virtual reality (VR)", for serving engineering and science students from the University of Duhok, the University of Zakho, and Duhok Polytechnic University. It introduces fundamentals of robotics to students by including several experiment modules that allow

This chapter outlines some indicators related to the higher educational systems in the MENA region, such as the support given by instructional technologies to academics working in this region. The research instrument consisted of a series of questions for collecting data from the respondents by using three techniques: questionnaires, online meetings, and interviews.

**1.** Providing materials and instructional technologies (i.e. online labs) to researchers, teach-

**3.** Increasing collaborative and cooperative work among the MENA researchers by sharing

A community of practice can be task and goal oriented to satisfy the need for cooperative

This research provides a feasible idea for more achievements in higher educational sectors in the MENA region by including instructional technologies that facilitate the students' skills

It is also hoped that by setting the online labs indicator, this chapter may be useful to guide the development of higher educational systems in other regions. Similarly, it may find other indicators or activities related to learning that can develop and assist the higher educational systems in the MENA region and increase collaborative and cooperative work among their

Hopefully, for the middle/long term, involving other universities, in Iraq and other MENA countries in general, to become a part of this online labs community, either using the VISIR system or through the REXNet project, for sharing resources and knowledge among them and

**2.** Building a community of practice around online labs in the MENA region.

achievements of goals and provide support for online learning [47].

increasing collaborative and cooperative work among their researchers.

students to run experiments via the Internet.

**7. Conclusion and future direction**

102 Global Voices in Higher Education

Overall, the major goals of this chapter are:

ers, and students in the MENA region.

resources and online experiments.

researchers.

acquisition and assist higher educational systems.

The authors would like to thank the University of Duhok, the University of Zakho, and Duhok Polytechnic University for supporting, partially, this chapter. Authors would also like to show their gratitude to the IREX organization for funding and supporting the REXNet project to serve these three universities.
