Jordan Daily – As part of the “Giving Back” campaign, Maria Stavropoulou, UNHCR Representative to Jordan, emphasized the importance of ensuring access to higher education for all, including refugees and underprivileged groups.
She stressed that education is a fundamental pillar for building generations capable of driving change, and highlighted the 15by30 goal, which aims to increase the enrollment rate of refugee students in higher education to 15% by 2030.
Zeina Jadaan, Head of the Education Department at UNHCR, also pointed to key commitments announced during the Global Refugee Forum and underscored the importance of coordination between the Higher Education Alliance in Jordan and international institutions to achieve this ambitious goal.
Building on the alliance established last year, several Jordanian universities announced today new opportunities for refugees in higher education – a step that enhances inclusivity and expands access to education, UNHCR said in a statement.
Some of the outcomes from today’s event included commitments from several universities, such as:
SOS Children’s Villages: Offering five scholarships in any university major within Jordan
Amman Arab University: Providing fifteen scholarships within the university itself, in addition to hosting a major conference that brings together representatives from the Jordanian private sector and the Association of Banks, to highlight their role in supporting refugee access to higher education
Applied Science Private University: Equalizing tuition fees between Jordanian and Syrian students, and offering an additional 5% in scholarships for refugees
Princess Sumaya University for Technology: Organizing a student-led marathon, with proceeds going to a refugee student support fund
Al al-Bayt University: Hosting a student bazaar reflecting the university’s commitment to supporting refugee education and many more.
