The Director of the Centre of the Refugee Studies, Displaced Persons and Forced Migration at Yarmouk University, Dr. Reem Al-Kharoof, during her meeting with the Project Officer of the Princess A'lia's institution, Professor Maysaa Al-Huwyan, urged ways to strengthen cooperation in the interests of education, the environment and refugee welfare.

 Dr. Al-Kharoof outlined the main services provided by the Center to serve refugee students and community members through its activities and international projects, and reviewed the main domains of the Center's strategic plan and the areas of future studies and surveys relating to developments in refuge, displacement and forced migration issues at the Arab and regional levels. 

The current vision of the Centre looks forward to further partnerships with various institutions and their multiple domains. For her part, Al-Hawyan expressed her pleasure at this visit, praising the distinguished reputation of Yarmouk University, and what it represents as a scientific, academic and research edifice, at the level of Jordanian, Arab and regional universities, and the key role of the Refugee Studies Center in the service of refugees and their matters.

She also welcomed the future partnership with the Center in various domains, considering Yarmouk a home of expertise with many human competencies, and stressed the need to establish joint action in various domains of development.

The Refugees, Displaced Persons and Forced Migration Studies Center held a workshop within the project “Developing Innovation Capabilities in Jordanian Universities and Entrepreneurship Education (2021-2023)” within the DAAD program for dealing with related projects within the framework of the Data Acquisition Technology Program for Sustainable Development and Crisis Management, which It is funded by the German Academic Exchange Department (DAAD), with the participation of Yarmouk University, the University of Jordan, the Hashemite University and Saarland University in Germany. The participation of two teams of university professors and students, the most important needs for entrepreneurship at Yarmouk University were discussed during the workshop, which focused on the most important strengths and weaknesses according to the point of view of each team, and discussed them during a joint session in the presence of both the Vice President of Saarland University for International Relations, Professor Dr. Cornelius Konting, and Coordinator The project is in Germany, Dr. Nada Bajo, the Director of the Center for Leadership and Excellence at Yarmouk University, Dr. Hisham Al-Masaeed, the Director of the International Relations Department, Dr. Ghazi Mqableh, the Deputy Director of the International Relations Department, Dr. Saif Athamneh, the Head of the Business Administration Department, Dr. Saleh Al-Omar, and the Head of the Al-Jawza Department at the Accreditation and Quality Control Center Dr. Fares Matalqa, Head of the Knowledge Transfer and Technology Department in the Department of International Relations and Projects, Dr. Mahmoud Masaedeh, and a number of university professors, students and refugees.

The workshop also included field visits to the Faculty of Economics and the Entrepreneurial Center at Hijjawi College to learn about the experience of Yarmouk University and its expertise in the field of entrepreneurship.

The Director of the Center , Dr. Anas Al-Sobh, explained that this project aims to enhance entrepreneurship in Jordanian universities, starting with analyzing needs and ending with determining how to implement education and learning leadership in the best possible way in the three Jordanian partner universities, by supporting communication between universities.

He added that the project includes training in the field of entrepreneurship in education for several academics and Syrian refugee students in Jordan.

It is worth noting that this project seeks to support the scientific and academic development in higher education institutions by focusing on developing the teaching process, curricula and plans related to entrepreneurship, as it aims to achieve continuous education for faculty members in the development of curricula and entrepreneurship, developing a multidisciplinary applied lecture On entrepreneurship, qualifying Syrian academics in curriculum development and entrepreneurship, and establishing professional networks in the field of entrepreneurship.

Yarmouk University received support for the project "Developing innovation capabilities in Jordanian universities and entrepreneurship education (2021-2023)" within the German Academic Exchange Program "DAAD".

 The Vice President for Administrative Affairs, Dr. Riyadh Al-Momani, participated in the introductory meeting, stressing that the development of scientific, academic and entrepreneurial fields is carried out through a changing and diverse university community committed to attracting and retaining diverse national and international talents.  And this university community must also be committed to creating a collaborative environment open to the free exchange of ideas, for research, creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship to flourish, and to ensure that individuals can realize their full potential.

Al-Momani pointed out that Yarmouk University's creative position stems from its openness to new ideas, forms of expression, intellectual curiosity and entrepreneurial spirit, indicating that this cannot be achieved without forms of cooperation, development and implementation of joint projects with local and international universities, which can create new structures and policies in addition to Update existing ones.

 He stressed that we must bear in mind, as we go through the second wave of the Corona pandemic, and the need to follow the educational process for entrepreneurship and to provide a comprehensive educational management in the field of entrepreneurship for faculty members, employees, students and refugees alike.

The head of the Center for Studies of Refugees, Displaced Persons and Forced Migration at Yarmouk University, Dr. Anas Al-Subuh, explained that this project aims to promote entrepreneurship in Jordanian universities, starting from analyzing needs to determining how to implement education and learning in the best possible way in the three partner Jordanian universities.

 He stressed the importance of supporting communication between universities in order to facilitate the active exchange of best practices, pointing out that one of the important focus of the project is the participation of Syrian academics, and their additional qualification in the field of entrepreneurship.

This project seeks to keep pace with the scientific and academic development in higher education institutions by focusing on the development of the teaching process, curricula and plans related to entrepreneurship.

The project also aims at continuing education for faculty members in curriculum development and entrepreneurship, developing one multi-disciplinary applied lecture on entrepreneurship, qualifying Syrian academics in curriculum development and entrepreneurship, and establishing professional networks in the field of entrepreneurship.

In addition to Yarmouk University, the University of Jordan, the Hashemite University, and Saarland University in Germany participate in this project, while the research team from Yarmouk University includes Dr. Anas Al-Subuh as a director, and Dr. Aya Akkawi, as well as Dr. Wijdan Akkalek from the Hashemite University. Dr. Ayman Harb from the University of Jordan, and Dr. Nidaa Allah Bajwa from Saarland University in Germany as the main partners in this project.

The Refugees, Displaced Persons and Forced Migration Studies Center at Yarmouk University is participated in a series of workshops within the project entitled "Developing Jordanian Universities' Capabilities for Innovation, Education and Entrepreneurship", funded by the German Foundation DAAD in partnership with Saarland University.

The project involves the University of Jordan and the Hashemite University in the implementation of a series of professional workshops and the exchange of qualitative experiences in mechanisms of teaching entrepreneurship and innovation.

The Director of the Center - Project Coordinator - Dr. Anas Al-Sobeh spoke about the development of a course on entrepreneurship to be taught in Jordanian universities in line with the strategic plan of the Jordanian Ministry of Higher Education. The aim of developing a course that it is targeting refugee students by providing them with the ideas necessary for entrepreneurship, which contributes to finding opportunities for creativity and innovation in the field of entrepreneurial projects.

The project also includes training to establish an incubator that contributes to linking entrepreneurial students with companies, the labor market and supporting bodies, to adopt ideas and contribute to their implementation. The project will provide equipment and devices to establish and produce audio/video the course lectures.

Developing advanced expertise to design tailored attention and inclusion strategies for highly vulnerable people in forced displacement:

Institutions and organisations providing services to immigrants are not always aware of all the vulnerability factors that shape their needs. A careful evaluation of possible strategies for the attention, reception, and settlement of vulnerable migrants is necessary. These strategies must be based on up-to-date research results and good practices and adapted to specific contexts.

RAISD’s novel approach to migration aims at developing Tailored Attention and Inclusion Strategies (TAIS).

TAIS are being designed, implemented and evaluated in seven participating countries to respond to the specific needs of one of the vulnerable groups detected after carrying out interviews with vulnerable individuals, stakeholder interviews, Action Research Unit meetings, analysis of previous good practices and desktop research.

National teams from Finland, Hungary, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Spain, Turkey including consortium member partners, civil society organizations, specialists, and activists of the Action Research Units (ARUs) develop the TAIS as pilot activities.

RAISD capacity building training available on our Learning Space:

During the last two years, RAISD designed a participatory action research approach based on Responsible Research and Innovation framework to detect suitable strategies for the attention and inclusion of forcibly displaced people. In this regard, the project partners designed specific training to build on the staff’s capacity when working at the Action Research Units and committed to implementing the inclusion strategies for selected vulnerable groups.

The training opportunities were intended to support inclusion actors to gain knowledge and skills on a wide range of topics that they might need in their path towards innovative attention and inclusion strategies, tailored upon the vulnerability context in which they operate.

The 7 training Modules include 13 different session approaching essential issues for professionals and researchers working with highly vulnerable people among the forcibly displaced - ethical issue, gender equity aspects, psychological support and trauma management.

RAISD’s training modules are freely available on RAISD Learning Space and open to all researchers and professionals who want to develop advanced expertise to effectively analyse specific challenges and needs of the targeted vulnerable groups or update their skills to implement suitable and evidence-based strategies to promote the involvement and inclusion of the vulnerable groups.

Here is an overview of the training modules you can find in RAISD Learning Space.

Updates from RAISD knowledge community:

RAISD knowledge community met online on June 10th for the second Cross-Analysis Workshop, aiming at gathering critical viewpoints on tailored attention and inclusion strategies assumptions, actors’ involvement as well as on design and implementation processes.

The workshop was organized to further improve methodological aspects within and around the local attention and inclusion strategies for Highly Vulnerable Groups affected by forced displacement.

It was an excellent opportunity to share the experiences of the ARU members and all the professionals involved in the process, focusing on the future adaptation of the methodology to new scenarios and the  involvement of vulnerable groups in the decision-making process.

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The Refugees, Displaced Persons and Forced Migration Studies Center at Yarmouk University has established the “ALASCO Chair for Asylum, Displacement and Forced Migration” to join the scientific chairs at the level of the Arab world affiliated with the Arab Organization for Education, Culture and Science - ALECSO - which operates within the framework of the League of Arab States.

The director of the Center for Refugees, Displaced Persons and Forced Migration Studies at the university, Dr. Anas Al-Subuh, explained that the establishment of this chair came with the aim of developing work in the field of asylum, displacement and forced migration issues at the level of Arab member states, so that the chair would contribute to strengthening the capabilities of the center in following up on asylum issues and its consequences in Jordan and the Arab world And to participate in conferences held by the Arab Organization for Education, Culture and Arts within the framework of refugees, and to build bridges of dialogue and cooperation between the member states of the organization.

The Secretariat of the Executive Council and the General Conference of the Organization (the National Committees Section) has started to hold the second series of working sessions with officials and members of the 19 scientific chairs affiliated with ALECSO, which will extend from 05 to 29 April 2021, where the sessions are held with each scientific chair on Limit.

The Secretariat started its second series by holding its first programmed session with the Scientific Chair affiliated with ALECSO from Jordan at Yarmouk University, which is managed by Dr. Anas Al-Subuh, in the presence of Dr. Alaa Muhammad Al-Qudah, the Deputy Director, and Mr. Azzam Al-Azzam, Program Supervisor in the Chair.

It was agreed during the session on the mechanisms for implementing the project of this chair by holding several activities, the most prominent of which is conducting a study entitled "Reducing the risks of extremism among refugees", providing psychological and community support services to Syrian refugees in Jordan, and conducting another study on "the impact of the Corona pandemic, mental health and achievement." The academic for primary school students: a comparative study between Jordanian students and refugees,” and the organization of an activity entitled “Opportunities for All: Opportunities for Benefit to Refugees and Their Host Countries in Education - Cloud Computing Project for the Service of Education and Learners in Jordan (Cloud Computing). "