Renewal of the scholarship programme for refugee students in the Middle East

Through the project, refugees and so-called sector experts in Lebanon and Jordan are supported to study for a Master's degree. In addition to financial support, the scholarship also includes non-material support through workshops, personal support and integration into the KAAD network. The refugees mostly come from Syria and Iraq. Thanks to a scholarship from this programme, 65 young people have already been able to complete a Master's degree in Jordan or Lebanon.

The scholarships enable the recipients to receive academic training in the host country, which makes it easier for them to integrate professionally and socially into the society and to develop a future perspective in and for the region. They can also use the acquired qualifications when they return to their home countries. In this way, the funding helps to alleviate the migration pressure in the region.

The funding focuses on subject areas that are related to central development issues in the Middle East region (such as water management, sustainability and health) on the one hand. On the other hand, there is a focus on subject areas that are interreligious, intercultural and peace- and reconciliation-building, such as the Master's programme in Muslim-Christian Relations at the Université Saint-Joseph (USJ) in Beirut.

The first scholarship holders of the third funding phase have already been selected and are now starting their studies. They were welcomed as KAAD scholarship holders in an online workshop on 2 December 2022.

Nils Fischer, Head of KAAD's Middle East Department, met with participants from the second funding phase in November in Amman for a workshop on the topic of education in Jordan. Some of the participants are currently completing their Master's degrees, others have already finished their studies and found work.