Amman- 15 November 2018
On Wednesday November 14, 2018 the German Jordanian University (GJU) hosted the HOPES project funded by the European Union’s Regional Trust Fund in response to the Syrian Crisis, the ‘Madad Fund’ and implemented by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the British Council, Campus France and Nuffic, organised its second National Stakeholders Dialogue, entitled ‘Language Needs of Syrians for Higher Education - Language for Resilience’.
This gathering is part of a series of stakeholders dialogues organized on a national level bringing together representatives from ministries, higher education institutions, key institutional stakeholders involved in tertiary education and the Syria crisis. The National Stakeholders Dialogues seek to provide a platform for discussion and information exchange, in order to expand the dialogue on higher education and the Syria crisis, to strengthen coordination on a national level and explore new approaches benefitting all stakeholders.
Following the welcome notes by the Delegation of the European Union to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the 'Madad Fund' as well the German Jordanian University and the HOPES project; the dialogue incorporated a panel session and various presentations addressing the specific language requirements of the local higher and further education system in Jordan.
The dialogue allowed to integrate suggestions of Syrian students and to discuss programmatic challenges and needs of the higher education institutions in terms of foreign language courses. It also explored further recommendations and approaches towards helping both refugee students and institutions to overcome language barriers on a national level.
Eight years into the Syrian crisis, millions of Syrians have fled their country finding refuge in the neighboring countries. Amongst them, only a small number of post-secondary age students are currently enrolled in a university program, and the majority of those are struggling to adapt to the academic system of the host countries. It was found that the lack of appropriate language skills and specifically in the language of instruction constitutes one of the main obstacles affecting the enrolment of Syrian refugees' in higher education institutions in these countries as well the successful completion of their studies.
HOPES (Higher and Further Education Opportunities and Perspectives for Syrians) is a €12 million regional project, funded by the European Union’s Regional Trust Fund in response to the Syrian Crisis, ‘the Madad Fund’ and implemented by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) together with the British Council, Campus France, and Nuffic. The project improves prospects for students of post-secondary-age and provides access to quality further and higher education opportunities for refugees from Syria as well as young people in the host communities in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey. HOPES activities include full academic scholarships at different levels, English courses, academic counselling and support funding for innovative short-term education projects.
The European Union's ‘Madad Fund’ substantially addresses socio-economic, educational, health, sanitary, and psycho-social needs of Syrian refugees, host communities and their administrations, and internally displaced persons in Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey.
Find out more: https://ec.europa.eu/neighbourhood-enlargement/neighbourhood/countries/syria/madad_en
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