Leadership for Syria

Contact details

Submitted by: Pia Schauerte, Senior Desk Officer “Leadership for Syria”, German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) - Funding organisation for the international exchange of students and researchers

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://www.daad.de/en/

Introduction to the project 

Country

Germany (Applicable for Syrian Students pursuing their studies in Germany)

Duration

The programme started in 2015. Scholarship holders arrived to Germany for a preparatory language course in June and started their studies in October 2015.

The programme is ending in December 2019; no renewal of this exact programme has been planned.

Description

The program finances the training and further education of young Syrian students and researchers in Germany.

Project aims 

Enhance refugee self-reliance through education, while responding to the needs of refugees and the host community.

Resources used 

11,2 Mio. Euros (funded by Federal Foreign Ministry of Germany (partially also funds from the state of North Rhine Westphalia (21 scholarships)).

Main activities of the Good Practice

The project supports one of the main objectives of the Global Compact on Refugees, namely enhance refugee self-reliance through education. Additionally, the programme responds to the needs of refugees and host communities and has potential to be replicated or broadened.

Partners

• The German Federal Foreign Office
• The Ministry of Culture and Science of the German State of North Rhine-Westphalia

Challenges and how they were overcome

On time arrival for preparatory language course and study entry was in a few cases difficult.

Initially, orientation and support structure through study planning meetings and preparatory language courses as well as student buddy and mentoring initiatives throughout the study phase. Overall constant use of support structure from international offices and students at HEIs.

Results of the Good Practice 

• 221 Syrian students had the chance to come to Germany on an international student visa
• They either continued their tertiary education or started it with scholarships for a Bachelor, Master or PhD degree
• Additional civic society programme for Master and PhD students at the University of Konstanz

Next steps 

Have an active alumni group.