JRS kicks off refugee education project with Erasmus Mundus

[ZIRC]

JRS kicks off refugee education project with Erasmus Mundus

This is a tremendous opportunity for our refugee friends who often experience doors closed on them. JRS is committed to this project, support the applicants and we hope that those who are accepted will work hard and gain greater freedom and capacity to better their lives.

Bangkok, 03 Nov 2011 – Refugees and asylum seekers now have the opportunity to get a degree in European universities in 2012 as applications to the AREAS scholarship was launched in November 1 with a kick-off meeting of consortium partners in Hanoi, Viet Nam.

The Academic Relations between Asia and Europe (AREAS) is a mobility and scholarship project financed by the European Commission through the Erasmus Mundus Action 2 – Strand 1 programme. “AREAS want to ensure that vulnerable populations under Target 3 category are well-served,” Bianca Buttiglione, Project Coordinator based in Politecnico di Torino which is the coordinating institution of a consortium that includes 24 partner universities and institutions from Europe and Asia. Students from the partner universities (Target 1) and priority countries (Target 2) are also eligible to apply.

JRS joined AREAS partnership as an associate member to assist in promoting and recruiting students from Target 3 category defined as “having a refugee status or asylum, belonging to an indigenous population or IDPs” and those who in vulnerable situations for political, economic reasons or physical disabilities. Nationals from the following countries are eligible to apply: Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, The Philippines and Vietnam. 

You can see instructions to apply here.

In 2009, JRS assisted in referring refugees and asylum seekers to apply for scholarships through Mr. Louie Bacomo, JRS Assistant Regional Director, who was then project coordinator of one consortium partner in a similar Erasmus Mundus project. Three vulnerable persons from Myanmar and one Thai were accepted to study in Europe that year. Louie, with the help of Youjin Jung, Regional Programme Assistant, will coordinate this project.

Refugees and asylum seekers from other nationalities are also eligible to apply through other Erasmus Mundus projects catering to other countries or lots. “I am excited that there are opportunities like this offered to people we serve. I received interest from our Afghan friends to study,” Taka Gani, JRS Indonesia Programme Officer, said. She now has the online links to these projects as application to the scholarship will all be done online. 

“This is a tremendous opportunity for our refugee friends who often experience doors closed on them. JRS is committed to this project, support the applicants and we hope that those who are accepted will work hard and gain greater freedom and capacity to better their lives,” Fr. Bernard Arputhasamy, JRS Regional Director, said.

Applications are now open. Please see www.areas.polito.it for more details. 
Please direct your questions to [e-mail] and [e-mail].

 

 

[ZIRC]

Refugees and asylum seekers now have the opportunity to get a degree in European universities in 2012 as applications to the AREAS scholarship was launched in November 1 with a kick-off meeting of consortium partners in Hanoi, Viet Nam.