Salt: Al-Balqa Applied University (BAU) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at establishing a higher education alliance in Jordan to ensure access of refugee students to higher education.
The memo, which was signed by BAU President Ahmed Ajlouni and UNHCR Deputy Representative in Amman, Michael Dell’Amico, aims to consolidate joint efforts and address higher education challenges facing refugees under the “Higher Education Alliance in Jordan.”
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Ajlouni said the memo seeks to alleviate the educational barriers faced by refugees, which would enable them to pursue academic excellence through BAU’s technical and applied university programs.
Ajlouni highlighted BAU’s decision to treat refugee students from various nationalities equally as their Jordanian peers, in terms of tuition fees, which would allow them to enroll in the parallel program instead of the international admissions.
Dell’Amico underscored
the “pivotal” role of inclusive and “equitable” higher education in Jordan, serving as a “beacon of hope” for refugees to complete their studies and acquire skills that would empower them to contribute “meaningfully” upon their eventual return to their home countries.
Praising Jordan’s commitment to realize “comprehensive and equitable” education, Dell’Amico noted “significant” steps made in recent years to enhance access to higher education for refugees, including initiatives to align tuition fees for refugee students with Jordanian students across many universities.
The memo features provisions to strengthen joint collaboration in expanding access to higher education and vocational training for refugees registered with the UNHCR.
The MoU also coordinates efforts to support enrollment of refugee and Jordanian students from vulnerable backgrounds, as this collaborative effort aims to “positively” impact educational opportunities and the lives of refugee students in Jordan.
The Higher Education Alliance in
Jordan comprises a network of 17 public and private universities, government agencies, and non-governmental organizations. Its mission is to facilitate refugee access to higher education, technical, and vocational training across the country.
Source: Jordan News Agency