The President of Yarmouk University, Prof. Islam Massad, met the Canadian Ambassador, Donica Pottie in Amman, accompanied by the embassy's director of immigration program, Sarah Erlichman. They discussed ways to strengthen cooperation between the both sides.

           At the beginning of the meeting, Massad reviewed the emergence of Yarmouk University and its faculties and disciplines in various fields of medical, scientific, humanitarian, literary. Also, there are future aspirations to develop more specialties such as nursing. This will make Yarmouk University a comprehensive university with its academic specialties, and it will be attractive to students from different countries all over the world, in addition to the scientific centers that are included in the university. They have a distinguished scientific reputation at the local and regional level, especially since they conduct many research studies in topics that are directly related to the various problems the society suffered from.

              Massad appreciated the constant cooperation between Yarmouk University and the Canadian Embassy in Amman through the Canadian Government support to a number of scientific and research projects which are implemented by Yarmouk University, such as its support for Deir Ala Archaeological Studies station and the leadership academy network support project. This has positive impact on the university's educational and research process.

            Massad said that: Yarmouk University is preparing university students and providing them with various skills and knowledge on how to play their community role and engage in political life. This is by organizing lectures and seminars with political decision makers and those who are interested in the political field to introduce young people to how political and party life in Jordan works. This will allow Jordanian youth to participate in building, growing and developing Jordan's future.

              He is also pointed out that the University's Centre for Refugee, Displaced persons and Forced Migration Studies is about to launch its own new strategy which aimed at strengthening cooperation with international supporting organizations and entities. This allows faculty members, researchers and students at the university to conduct studies and research on refugees and migration several aspects.

               For its part, Pottie expressed the embassy's readiness to strengthen its existing cooperation with Yarmouk University by building bridges of cooperation between Canadian universities and Yarmouk University in various fields. She is also pointing out that the Canadian government supports a program of cooperation between Canadian universities and various universities in the world. She is referring to the possibility of Yarmouk University to take advantage from the Expo Programmed for Universities 2022 in this area. This is due to the presence of a number of Canadian university delegates in the activities of this program who are interested in entering cooperation agreements with different universities.

              The meeting was attended by Dr. Muwaffaq Al-Amoush, Vice President for Acadmic Affairs, Dr. Riad Al-Momani, Vice President for Administrative Affairs, Dr. Reem Al Kharouf Director of the Centre for Refugee, Displaced and Forced Migration Studies, Dr. Nozt Abu Al-Asal, Director of Public Relations and Information, and Nancy Al-Atum of the Canadian Embassy.

            The Canadian Ambassador listened to a detailed explanation from the Center's Director, Dr. Reem Al Kharouf, about the center's origins, objectives, activities and strategic plan during her visit to the Center for Refugee, Displaced and Forced Migration Studies. They also discussed ways to enhance cooperation in the fields of scientific research, strategic initiatives and a range of ideas for future qualitative projects that targeting refugees in Jordanian society.

           The Ambassador also met the refugee center’s family and the volunteers during her visit. This is with a view to learning about the working processes and the ways in which refugees are served.

The President of Yarmouk University Prof. Islam Massad sponsored the events of "a retreat of setting research and national priorities in the field of asylum, displacement and forced migration" in Amman which has been organized by the Centre for Refugee Forced Migration Studies at Yarmouk University, in partnership with UNHCR.

        Massad stressed during his opening speech, in the presence of UNHCR Representative in Amman Daniele Tessandori.   We are meeting in this national retreat which includes an elite of experts, specialists and researchers in the field of refuge and its various issues to discuss multiple aspects and different angles. This aims at giving an answer of an important question in the field of scientific research which is where to start from? And how do we proceed? Especially, because we are dealing with an issue has high sensitivity and privacy, which is "asylum".

         He also stressed that the keenness of Yarmouk University to carry out its mission not only at the level of preparing scientific competencies in various fields of science and knowledge, but it also takes care of scientific research production which its results reflect in local and international communities and serve human beings wherever they are. It does not abandon them and their issues.  Its approach is to implement its projects and research within a comprehensive national strategy.    

        He added: from this sense, the center's team has initiated this activity which is distinguished by the presence of qualitative partners. They are capable to guide the track of scientific research in the fields of asylum and migration to a place where it must be. This is within a serious national vision and clear road milestones.

Massad pointed out that Yarmouk University has paid great attention to the activities and events of the Center for Refugee and Displaced Persons Studies and Forced Migration. This is based on its absolute belief that universities must provide the homeland with what can make it capable to face the challenges such as asylum and its associated challenges, crises and complex problems that reflect in the social, economic and political realities of societies. It goes beyond that to influence the future which we want to be better than the reality. We are seeking to serve our societies and homelands in order to achieve the directive of the wise Hashemite leadership. This generous Hashemite homeland has borne the consequences of asylum and its effects since its inception. It will continue to be a safe haven and destination for all those who have been lured by circumstances to leave their homelands.

         Tessandori expressed the UNHCR support and appreciation for the efforts that Jordan has made and still providing towards refugees. Jordan has taken the facade role in dealing with this humanitarian issue. He stressed that this Jordanian role is appreciated by UNHCR through Jordan's keenness to keep its doors open to receive large regiments of these refugees. He also appreciated the kingdom's positive approach towards the refugee file which is distinguished by its extending over decades throughout history. He pointed out that today we are not looking for cooperation with Jordan on the issue of refugees as much as we look at what we have both done on this subject. We have established a very large base to work together in order to develop ourselves. He pointed out that UNHCR is always seeking for strengthen coordination and enhancing response on refugee and asylum issues in general.

             added that this specialized retreat represents an opportunity to link the academic field and scientific research further in relation to practical aspects in terms of refugee issues in the field-based. He Expected to come up with a road map at the end of this retreat’s activities aimed to apply and translate this vision practically. Especially as this meeting brings together practitioners on the ground, academics and authorities to participate in this vision about asylum issues. This enshrines a common goal between the Jordan and UNHCR.

       Prof. Reem Al-Kharouf, the Director of the Center for Refugee, Displaced persons and Forced Migration Studies, confirmed that this retreat came after months of hard working and preparation to build a national base to work with refugees and for them. This is based on the center's vision which derived from the philosophy of Yarmouk University's mission. At that time, the most significant question was “Are we able to work in a distinct way based on study, planning and active participation?” And “Are we able to reach results worthy of the reputation of our university and our country?”

      She added that the answer of this question was “yes we can” in case we had a clear road map towards the goal we want to achieve. These are qualitative research that serve the country and develop one of our tools. So, the idea of building specialized research priorities for asylum and forced migrations was born. Researchers can benefit from this idea in our Arab region and the worldwide in a way it is determined by specialists.

          Al-Kharouf pointed out that refugees in the world do not only need support and assistance, but they also need research and study which make their way accessible for building the reality that they want. We are able to take this step despite all the challenges that we face.  In the sessions of this retreat, many topics were discussed such as axis the health, medical and psychological sciences and the axis of the economy, food and water security, innovation and leadership. Also, the axis of communication and information technology, the axis of humanities, social sciences and information, the focus of future studies and the global system and the challenges of the future have been discussed as well as the axis of environmental studies and the axis of legal protection for refugees in international and national legislation.

              The retreat recommended a set of recommendations at the end of the its sessions. The most notably recommendation is providing a comprehensive health database for Jordanians and refugees in details including primary health care, and studying the levels of change in social stigma and their relationship to access to psychological services. It also recommended that the role of refugees in the development of the host country's economy and labor market should be strengthened instead of being a burden on it. Participants also recommended investing technology in protecting environmental systems in refugee assembly areas, studying the importance of research in environmental psychology, and the participation of refugees in social development. In terms of legal protection of refugees in international and national legislation, the retreat recommended conducting research studies on finding a local refugee law and providing a study about the duplication of services that provided to refugees and their actual needs in the host community.

On behalf of Yarmouk University President, Prof. Islam Massad, the director of Refugees, Displaced Persons and Forced Migration Studies Center, Dr. Reem Al-Kharouf, sponsored the consultative session to develop the Medium-Term Strategic Plan for 2022-2024," for Refugees Centre". This session was held with a participation of a set of national and international organizations and agencies, in the circular hall of the seminar and conference building. 

Al-kharouf said in her opening statement that this consultative session intended to communicate and interact with the university and center's partners. Also, it intended to discuss and develop the suggested strategic plan for the Center's work over the next three years. This stems from Yarmouk University’s belief that the active partnership is the headline of the center's work in order to serve asylum issues and to work with the refugees.

She added that Yarmouk University looks at the refugee-related issues as a message that the Hashemites believed in. It is not a matter of welfare or temporary need for the Jordanian society which has been a safe haven for all needy and grieved since our precious homeland was founded. 

Al-Kharouf assured that this workshop and its outcomes including insights and recommendations towards the center's plan and activities according to a solid scientific approach, is based on constant work and assessment, will be appreciated and taken into consideration in the work of the center and its aspirations. It will be a qualitative addition in the center’s activities and programs in the coming days in order to achieve a new picture of working on refugee’s issues and addressing all the issues associated with them by research and study.

Al-Kharouf also presented, on the margins of the session, the most prominent features of the medium-term strategic plan for 2022-2024 in the work of the Center which are represented by research, studies and opinion polls, by creating a network of researchers and a research database, and attracting a number of these volunteer researchers from Jordan, neighboring and European countries to participate in the scientific studies that belong to refuge issues.

 As for the human resources, al-Kharouf said that the center's vision in this aspect is based on identifying staff training needs and setting up a training plan such as training the center's staff on English language skills, scientific research and project writing skills.

 She pointed out that the center's strategic plan also includes administrative and technical development and Networking, building partnerships and relations between public-private sectors and organizations. This happens through cooperation agreements, implementation of joint projects, programs, activities and events.

  She added that the plan also includes support for the administrative and technical decision of the center by establishing a database for refugees and displaced persons, and preparing a semi-annual statistical bulletin, in addition to preparing policy paper based on the results of studies, research, surveys and round tables.

 Regarding the focus of awareness and media outreach, al-Kharouf noted that this focus is based on creating social networking sites for asylum cases, taking interest in the news that related to asylum issues, displacement and forced migration and holding seminars, lectures and conferences on asylum issues. In addition to the newsletter on asylum issues.

 During the recommendations session which moderated by Dr. Alaa Al-Makhzoumi of the Faculty of Education and Dr. Lara Haddad of the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, participants have recommended the need to strengthen institutional partnerships and to benefit from individual experiences within and outside the University and to Build a special educational model in the field of asylum, migrations and crises in general.

 Participants also have recommended the need to sustain activities and consultative sessions with relevant voluntary entities to discuss the objectives and the plans, to study the labor market, refine the skills of refugees and integrate them with the host community, to build international partnerships and to inform the center's staff about successful experiences in other countries and centers.

      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 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.

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.

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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