Periodic Reporting for period 1 - WESREF-IU (Welcoming Syrian Refugees to İstanbul University: Improving Capacity and Knowledge Sharing) Reporting period: 2018-05-01 to 2019-06-30 Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project Istanbul University as one of the oldest Higher Education Institution of Turkey, is alone hosting 1.217 of the registered 4.393 Syrian university students in Istanbul. It has significant duties and responsibilities towards the refugee youth in building their future whether in asylum countries or in the process of rebuilding their home country. In that regard Istanbul University is aware of the need to facilitate refugee students access and participation to higher education and support their further engagement with their studies, campus and city. Within this responsibility, WESREF-IU Project supported under Horizon 2020 Framework Programme SawfS-2017-1 aims to increase the Syrian youth’s access and participation to higher education through increasing awareness among administrative and academic staff and providing information, guidance and specifically tailored support mechanisms to prospective and current students amid good practice and knowledge sharing with enhanced communication and cooperation. With the aim of increasing effective cooperation with science and society and pairing science with social awareness and responsibility the project further aims to contribute to empowerment of refugee youth, improvement of institutional capacity through addressing the diverse needs of refuges and new policy and procedure development. Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far Preparation and Planning (WP2)A project manual has been prepared and disseminated to the project members by the beginning of the project. The overall aim which is to keep each team member in contact with the project management, time frame and implementation along with general principles and aims of the project is functionning well up to today. Pilot Application and Admission Support (WP 4)The aim was to provide accurate information, advice and guiding to prospective refugee students during application procedures in order to increase Syrian students access to Istanbul University. During application and admission process starting from August 2018, 72 applicants have been supported by the project assistants who are also refugee students at Istanbul University have been recruited and trained for the task. As the deliverables, info sheets to provide basic information to prospective students and clear guidelines to support both the prospective students and application and admission staff, available in Turkish, English and Arabic languages have been prepared. Pilot Orientation Program (WP 5) An orientation program was organized at Istanbul University, Beyazıt Campus in two sessions with the participation of 55 new registered students with the aim of introducing campus life, academic culture and norms to new students in order to o facilitate their access and participation to higher education and support their further engagement with their studies, campus and city. Pilot Academic Language Support (WP 6) A curriculum and program have been developed in cooperation with Istanbul University Language Center for the module academic language support which aims to improve Turkish language proficiency of the Syrian researchers and students. Announcements have been made, the program has started receiving applications as of September 2019. 92 students and researches have applied to the program. The program designed and evaluated according to the participants requests, still continues. Info Session (WP7)An info session was carried out with the participation of 3 team members, 11 key relevant staff working with refugee students. The aim was to inform the participants regarding the project and to provide accurate and up to date information regarding the regulative framework of refugee access and participation to HE in Turkey, its implementation at institutional level by İstanbul University and to contribute to awareness raising among administrative staff working in direct contact with Syrian and other prospective refugee students. Furthermore, discussing ethical principles of working with refugees and mapping the available institutional psycho-social support provided for refugees and opportunities to enhance institutional capacity were among the objectives. Workshop (WP7)Within the objective of increasing institutional engagement in awareness raising and dialogue, the project aims to enforce communication between higher education institutions and refugee communities. In that regard, the workshop which aims to debate, share and discuss and disseminate the preliminary research results and the project implementation including evaluation of the pilot program was held with the participation of project members and students who have applied and attended the pilot support programs. Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far) First and foremost, expected impact of the project is to ensure effective cooperation between science and both refugee and host society through enhanced relations between HEIs and refugee and local society. In short term, tangible and quick results are expected to be improved institutional capacity, knowledge and awareness through support programs, workshops, info sessions, clear guidelines and info sheets in multi languages. Since refugees will benefit from clear and accurate guidelines and support, increased application and admission rate among refugee students to the university is another expected short term impact which in the medium run will hopefully increase number of refugee students and researchers at Istanbul University. Apart from improved capacity and awareness at institutional level, the implementation of the project will further contribute to the knowledge and capacity building of the participating organizations. Therefore, as indirect beneficiaries, a wider Syrian population will benefit from the project. Other direct beneficiaries are already enrolled Syrian students and researchers. Short and medium term impact is improved academic achievement and language proficiency through pilot orientation and language support designed for the implementation of the project. The expected medium and long term impact is improved refugee participation to academy, research and science which will be beneficial for their future employability, integration and well-being. Furthermore for the recruited refugee graduate students for the application and admission support, in addition to financial benefits , built knowledge and experience with HE application and admission procedures for refugees and general familiarity with the institutional personnel, procedures and the project management in general are available. Wider indirect beneficiaries are expected to be HEIs -both regional and EU wide- central and local authorities, voluntary organizations which will benefit from accumulated valuable knowledge on relevant aspects of refugee participation and support at HEIs through dissemination, knowledge and good practice sharing of the project. While HEIs in the region will benefit from produced guideline and info sheets, policy making institutions will accordingly benefit from evidence based needs analysis, research and policy recommendations. Thus an overreaching impact would be a shift in refugee recognition and participation in HEs both regional and European wide through dissemination and knowledge sharing of the project and integrated common actions and efforts for future cooperation, research and projects. WESREF-IU September 14, 2018 Orientation Program WESREf-IU August 31, 2018 Application and Admission Support WESREF-IU September 14, 2018 Orientation Program (Campus Tour)
