NATIONAL STAKEHOLDER DIALOGUE IN EGYPT ‘HE and the Syria Crisis: A look back and a view towards the future’
On Thursday 19 September 2019, the HOPES project funded by the European Union’s Regional Trust Fund in response to the Syrian Crisis, the ‘Madad Fund’ and implemented by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the British Council, Campus France and Nuffic organised its fourth National Stakeholders Dialogue, entitled ‘Higher Education and the Syria Crisis: A look back and a view towards the future’ at the Hilton Residence Zamalek, Cairo, Egypt.
This gathering is part of the fourth and final series of National Stakeholders Dialogues organised on a national level bringing together representatives from ministries, higher education institutions, and other key institutional stakeholders as well as students to take stock and evaluate engagements and achievements in this sector and to explore further approaches and imminent priorities based on the needs of all the involved stakeholders.
The National Stakeholders Dialogues provide a platform for discussion and information exchange on higher education and the Syria crisis, to strengthen coordination on a national level and explore new approaches benefitting all stakeholders.
The dialogue started with welcome notes by Ms. Elizabeth White, Director of the British Council Egypt, as well as Mr. Harry Haynes, Regional Higher Education English Access Programme (HEEAP) Project Manager. The event continued with preliminary reflections from key speakers from the Ministry of Higher Education, the UNHCR, the Centre of Migration Studies and St Andrew’s Refugee Centre (StARS) on the current situation of Syrian refugees in Egypt as well as round table discussions on lessons learned and future priorities. The dialogue allowed the identification and exploration of recommendations and approaches to enhance educational and training services offered to refugees specifically in the public sector.
