Refugees, Displaced Persons and Forced Migration Studies Center issued its first electronic newsletter in English, which is considered a continuation of the same issue that was issued in Arabic at the end of last June.  The newsletter introduces the center's activities and achievements.

The issue included an opening article by the University President, Dr. Islam Massad, in which he addressed a set of ideas that talk about the role of Yarmouk University conducting research and implement activities related to the refugee crisis. He adds that through the center's research and national roles in its field of work, it follows the royal vision in building a safe environment for refugees in Jordan.

Massad added that the university is committed to its national and academic role towards refugees, such as its interest in various national and humanitarian issues. The center, through its long years of work, played an integral role in conducting important research along with other national roles related to its field of work. It has also provided thought and has taken serious action to serve refugee issues and achieve the Hashemite vision in building a safe environment for refugees in this great Arab house, Jordan, under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah bin Al-Hussein.

He also stressed the university's keenness to develop the structure and work of the "refugee center" to simulate global experiences, and to strengthen partnerships with national and international partners capable of achieving the center's vision and activities.

In her speech, the Director of the Center, Prof. Reem Al-Kharouf, said that refugees and those who suffer from the effects and consequences of asylum were the center’s top priorities and constant focus of its various programs; we got feedback from them about their expectations of the center’s roles and what the center and its partners can do for them.

She added that we are still working under the slogan “Together We Can” to serve our beloved country, Jordan, our university, and the center that carries a profound humanitarian and scientific message.

Al-Kharouf invited all those interested in the issues of asylum, displacement and forced migration to work with the center as a team to achieve common goals.

The issue included what the center accomplished during the first half of this year: partnerships with many national and international bodies, the most prominent research and studies, and future activities to be implemented during the second half of this year and introducing the experiences of some university professors who are members of the center’s research network. In addition, the newsletter allocates a special space for volunteer students to express their opinions and highlight their activities and achievements.

The electronic version of this newsletter can be viewed through this link:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ETbZDElqeFyJCSkDqWPpCd3EDE3R9TLn/view?usp=sharing

The President of Yarmouk University, Professor Islam Massad, met with a delegation from the American Shenandoah University headed by the Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Amy Sarch, to discuss ways of scientific cooperation, thus paving the way to sign a memorandum of understanding to enhance academic and research cooperation between the two universities.

At the beginning of the meeting, Massad affirmed Yarmouk University's keenness to consolidate its cooperation with the American Shenandoah University, which will positively reflect on the educational and research process in both universities through joint research and scientific projects in various fields. Such cooperation, he stated, as represented by the zero hunger project through Refugees, Displaced Persons and Forced Migration Studies Center, aims at implementing one of the seventeen sustainable development goals set by the United Nations, which is concerned with eliminating hunger and providing food security. Massad then praised the cooperation of the two universities through the COIL Joint Teaching Project, which included 15 faculty members of Yarmouk besides their counterparts from Shenandoah University. Moreover, Massad affirmed the readiness of the Language Center to offer remote courses and educational programs in the field of Arabic for non-native speakers.

In return, Sarch praised the distinguished scientific reputation of Yarmouk University and its distinguished scientific competencies. She then reviewed the establishment of Shenandoah University in 1875 emphasizing that it offers postgraduate programs in different specialties and that it includes nearly 4,000 students, 8% of whom are international students.

During the meeting, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the two universities, considering that the memo stipulated the exchange of faculty and administrative staff as well as students between the two universities, conducting research projects in areas of Joint interest, establishing joint master's, doctoral and diploma programs, holding lectures, and organizing seminars.

The Refugee, Displaced Persons and Forced Migration Studies Center participated in a workshop for stakeholder groups within the Project of Migration among the Mediterranean Cities (Dialogue, Knowledge, Work). This workshop entitled "Urban Challenges and Opportunities in the Mediterranean Region  General Policy Recommendations".

The workshop, which was held in the Greater Irbid Municipality, included several axes of discussion. The most highlighted ones are: the status of migration, current developments, immigrants, human rights, the access to services, policies, initiatives of integration and complementary.

The director of the center, Prof. Reem Al Kharouf, said that Yarmouk University is one of the first national institutions that took care of the asylum file, displacement and forced migration. This is through the foundation of the refugee studies program in 1992. Afterwards in 1997, the center was established to be the first center in the Arab region and the Middle East which is specialized in asylum, displacement and forced migration issues. Its vision involves supporting decision makers and the researchers who are interested in those areas. This is by conducting studies, qualitative research, surveys and the implementation of the related projects as a national and regional research reference.

Al-Kharouf said that, more than 10 years after the Syrian asylum crisis, experts and specialists should head to the perspective studies aiming at reaching treatments and solutions which are based on experience and analysis. In addition, they should accurately link between the reality of the situation and the paces towards the future regarding to education, health and the necessary infrastructure services over the next 10 years.

She also emphasized that the future plans must be comprehensive and clear as well as moving beyond the reality of the situation towards an innovative and creative future contributes to solving problems, developing capacities and building real opportunities to address all the negatives associated with crises and emergency issues.

Yarmouk University participated in the scientific conference via the Center for Refugee, Displaced and Forced Migration Studies. The conference is organized by the University of Jordan as a part of the U.S.-Jordanian University Cooperation Network under the PULSE project which is launched in the second base of its 2022 program that entitled “New Orientations in Cooperation between American and Jordanian Universities for Sustainable Development”.

       The participation of Yarmouk University in the session of asylum, displacement and forced migration issues is included at the contribution axis of the “Refugee Center” in providing social integration services for refugees.

     The director of the center, Prof. Reem Al Kharouf presented a detailed presentation on the specialized projects and studies which the center is working on. Thus, this contributes in raising the efficiency and skills of refugees, supporting the decision-maker in developing comprehensive strategies and policies. This leads to reaching treatments and solutions based on the analysis and the careful link between the reality of the situation and the pace towards the future. Also, this  supports the strategic plans of governments so that the refugee is transformed from a dependent person to an efficient person and then to be a contributor to the production and development. 

The conference, which lasted over two days, discussed a number of topics which are related to future trends in cooperation between American and Jordanian universities and other topics such as innovation in university education, agriculture, technology and artificial intelligence. Also, other topics related to sustainable development goals are discussed, such as asylum, energy, climate change and the challenges that face the achieving these goals.

 On the occasion of the World Day of Refugee, which took place on the twentieth of June, the Refugees, Displaced Persons and Forced Migration Studies Center, in cooperation with Al-Hussein Bin Talal Library, organized a special event that included a screening of the documentary film of Mr. Tanimoto's Journey, which documents the journey of Mr. Tanimoto, the Japanese refugee, and his placement in the United States of America after World War II.

Prof. Al Kharouf, the Director of the Refugee, Displaced and Forced Migration Studies Centre, said that the Center is keen to invest in occasions related to issues of asylum, displacement and forced migration, which helps in reviewing the concerns, issues and problems of refugees at various levels through studies and research. For his part, the Director of the Al-Hussein Bin Talal Library, Dr. Omar Al-Ghoul, praised the joint cooperation between the Center and the various departments of the university. Besides, the film's director, Dr. Jesse A. Diszard, Professor of Visual Anthropology at California State University, Chico, thanked Yarmouk University and the Refugee Studies Center for screening the film that deals with the concept of identity and homeland as well as the experience of alienation inside the homeland. However, an extensive discussion took place among the audience at the end of the show.

The President of Yarmouk University, Prof. Islam Massad decided to reconstitute the Council of the Center for Refugee, Displaced and Forced Migration Studies at the University. This is headed by the Vice President of the University for Administration, Prof. Riad Al-Momani. The members are: the former Minister of Education Dr. Ibrahim Badran, Senator Dr. Ahmed Al Hindawi, former Minister of Youth Dr. Mohammad Abu Rumman, Director General of the Jordan River Foundation Ms. Enaam Al-Brishi, and the Executive Director of the Foundation for the Integration of Ms. Mai E’leimat.

 The council's membership also included many Deans of Faculties which are: the faculty of Arts, Economics and Administrative Sciences, and Law, as well as the Director of the Centre for Refugee, Displaced and Forced Migration Studies as a member and rapporteur.

Massad expressed his confidence in providing sincere efforts and drawing on the expertise of the council members in order to achieve the goals and aspirations of the Center and to carry out its mission to the fullest. The goals also involve motivating its career in order to contribute to the development of projects, research and mechanisms for providing qualitative services to refugees and host communities in accordance with national visions and the scientific strategies.

The Center is one of the scientific centers at the University. The University's interest in asylum began through the establishment of the Refugee Studies Program in 1992. Then in 1997, the center was established to be the first center in the Arab region and the Middle East which is specialized in issues of asylum, displacement and forced migration. The vision of the Center involves supporting decision makers and researchers on issues of asylum, displacement and forced migration by conducting studies, qualitative research, surveys and implementation of the related projects, as a national and regional research reference.

In the framework of the memorandum of understanding signed with the Shenandoah University, USA, Yarmouk University represented by the Refugees, Displaced Persons and Forced Migration Studies Center signed a statement of action with Shenandoah University regarding a research project related to the second goal of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. The goal is related to eliminating hunger, providing food security and improved nutrition, and promoting sustainable agriculture, especially for refugees and the most vulnerable.

Signing this statement came during the visit of the Shenandoah University delegation, which included the Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Amy Sarch, and the Director of the Barzinji Institute for Global Virtual Learning, Dr. Younus Mirza, to the Refugees Center at Yarmouk University and meeting with the director of the Center, Prof. Reem Al-Kharouf, and the center's staff.

During the visit, Al-Kharouf gave a full explanation about the establishment of the Center, its objectives, and activities. She pointed out that this project represents the Center's strategic plan, which stems from the university's mission in serving the local community and its interest in asylum issues. Al-Kharouf pointed out that the research project, which will be implemented in stages during the academic years (2022-2024), will include the establishment of a database, composing research papers, holding joint meetings, and exchanging visits between the Center and the partners in this research project.

Sarch praised the importance of having a center specialized in issues of asylum, displacement and forced migration, explaining that its research studies contribute to providing services to this category of people.

Representing the President of Yarmouk University, the Vice President for Administrative Affairs, Professor Riad al-Momani, in the presence of the Assistant President of the University, Professor Ziad Zureikat, sponsored the activities of the World Day of Refugee, which were held by the Refugees, Displaced Persons and Forced Migration Studies Center and the ALECSO Chair for Asylum, Displacement and Forced Migration.

The activities came in two parts: the first was a theatrical performance carried out by a group of volunteer students at the Center. The performance dealt with some details related to the journey of refugees, their suffering, and the difficulties they encounter, emphasizing the Jordanian role at various levels in hosting Arab refugees. The second part of the activities included a training workshop entitled "The Basics of Writing International Projects for Asylum and Dealing with Donors" presented by the member of the Center’s Board of Directors - CEO and founder of the Edmaaj Foundation for Development Consulting and Training, Ms. Mai E'leimt, with the participation of a group of faculty members from various faculties of the university, affiliates of the research network in the Center.

Prof. Al Kharouf, the Director of the Refugee, Displaced and Forced Migration Studies Centre , said at the end of these events that the diversity of the activities on this day is part of the center's policy which aims at introducing and raising awareness in unconventional ways in the host community of refugees, displaced persons, forcibly displaced persons and their developments.

She added that the training that included in this activity comes with an objective to develop the capabilities of the research network members at the center from the teaching staff of different colleges. In addition, it aims at developing ways to address refugee topics and issues in various fields, the specific skills required and the details contained whether in terms of scientific research or writing and implementing projects that would contribute to the provision of appropriate solutions for that category.

The Refugee, Displaced persons and Forced Migration Studies center at Yarmouk University launched the intensive diploma program in refugee studies in collaboration with the Academy of Refugee Studies. It is a free intensive diploma that addresses issues of asylum around the world. This program includes several courses which are taught through a visual communication technology. Every course has two hours a week with a total of 16 hours of instruction.

 The lectures vary in addressing several topics. The most prominent ones are: a general introduction to the issue of asylum in the world, the international and regional organizations, their roles in serving the refugees and the impact of asylum socially, culturally, economically and psychologically. It also talks about refugee rights in the international law, international asylum agreements, as well as refugee issues between integration and the preservation of identity in conditions of social media, migration and asylum (the Middle East as a model).

Prof. Reem Al Kharouf, the Director of the Center for Refugee Studies, said that the program was the result of the partnership between the Center and the Academy of Refugee Studies. It is one of the executed projects from future project series which intended to be implemented.

Al-Kharouf added that the center aims at working to raise awareness on issues of asylum, displacement and forced migration between refugees and members of the host community. This is based on its strategic plan and consistent with the university's mission in serving community. The Center also aims at highlighting the most salient issues in these areas as a national and regional research reference that support decision makers and researchers.