Sara Jari, the recipient of the Syrian Scholars Initiative scholarship, is graduating from ICU this month. We asked Sara to reflect on her time at ICU and how it has impacted her life. Congratulations Sara!
This spring, JICUF decided to compile our work on refugee higher education under an initiative titled “Refugee Education Japan (REJ),” and launched a new website.
Since JICUF launched the Syrian Scholars Initiative in 2017 to welcome Syrian students with refugee backgrounds to ICU, we have gradually expanded our support for displaced students, and now are part of global and domestic networks to promote education pathways for refugees.
On Monday, March 18, as one of the organizers of the Japan Education Pathways Network (JEPN), JICUF co-hosted a reunion for Ukrainian and Syrian students who are studying in universities and language schools in Japan at Sophia University. Her Imperial Highness Crown Princess Akishino observed part of the event and conversed with some of the students. Approximately 80 students from across Japan, including 10 Japanese students from host institutions, attended the event.
The second Global Refugee Forum will be held in Geneva from December 13 to 15. JICUF submitted a pledge to the Forum to continue supporting refugee higher education.
On May 17 and 18, JICUF co-hosted a conference titled “Expanding Refugee Education Pathways” at Sophia University with the Global Task Force on Third Country Education Pathways (GTF), Pathways Japan, and Sophia University. About 60 participants from 20 countries gathered to discuss how to increase educational opportunities for refugee students to provide a safe pathway to a third country.
JICUF has helped recruit seven Syrian students through the Syrian Scholars Initiative. This year marks the final year of student recruitment for SSI, and we will continue to support refugee and displaced students through other means, including funding the Japanese Language School Pathways program administered by the NPO Pathways Japan.
In July, JICUF launched a series of online meetings with UNHCR to discuss higher education initiatives for refugees in Asia and the Pacific with institutions across the region. Two sessions have already been held, with about 80 participants representing close to 20 countries across the region. Two more sessions will be held in September.
JICUF has two coordinators based in Turkey to help promote the Syrian Scholars Initiative. Nadine Jamous and Abulhadi Hanifeh play a crucial role in our program.
On June 18th and 19th, Aki Takada, Associate Director of JICUF, attended a conference titled “The Other 1%: Refugees at Institutions for Higher Education Worldwide” in Berlin, Germany. She introduced JICUF’s Syrian Scholars Initiative in a workshop on Financing Models and Strategic Partnerships.
On April 4th, the Institute of International Education (IIE) hosted the first Global Forum for its Platform for Education in Emergencies Response (PEER) Initiative in New York. Paul Hastings, Executive Director of JICUF, contributed as a panelist in a breakout session on “How to Build Successful Partnership in Higher Education in Emergencies. ” He spoke about JICUF and ICU’s scholarship program for Syrian students, Syrian Scholars Initiative.
