The vice President of Yarmouk University for Humanities and Administrative Affairs, Pro. Anis Khasawneh, discussed with a delegation from St. Olaf College in Northfield, USA ways of scientific and research cooperation in the field of refugee studies. Prof. Khasawneh stressed that Yarmouk University was the forerunner among the Jordanian educational institutions with respect to paying attention to refugees' studies through the establishment of the Refugees, Displaced Persons and Forced Migration Studies Center, which is concerned with spreading community awareness regarding asylum issues.
Pointing out that the Center holds conferences, seminars and workshops on issues of asylum, displacement, and forced migration, Prof. Khasawneh asserted that Yarmouk, represented by the Center, is ready to receive students from St. Olaf College who are interested in working in the field of refugees' studies and displaced persons. He also stated that Yarmouk is willing to integrate those students in Arabic language programs for non-native speakers, so they can conduct research studies on asylum issues with high efficiency and credibility. Moreover, Prof. Khasawneh said that Yarmouk University hosts a group of Syrian students who continue their studies in various disciplines through grants provided to them under the cooperation agreements concluded with the university. He also stressed the importance of benefiting from the results of scientific research conducted by researchers as realistic solutions to the problems of refugees, whether they are economic, social, educational, health, or psychological problems.
In her turn, Dr. Ibtisam Al-Atiyat, Professor of Sociology at St. Olaf College, praised the distinguished level of Yarmouk University in general, and the Refugees, Displaced Persons and Forced Migration Studies Center in particular, which has a distinguished scientific reputation at the international level. Then she called for strengthening cooperation between the two sides by receiving a number of Yarmouk students at St. Olav College for conducting studies and scientific research specializing in asylum and displacement issues.
In response, Dr. Ayat Nashwan, the director of Refugees, Displaced Persons and Forced Migration Studies Center, reviewed the establishment of the Center, its objectives and activities on various issues related to asylum. She pointed out that the Center seeks to communicate with refugees inside and outside the camps and works to find effective solutions to the problems they face through research and field studies conducted by the Center in cooperation with various international organizations.
However, during their visit to the university, the delegation reviewed the support and service unit for refugee students at the university R-SOS Unit of the Rescue project in which YU participates and aims to build research cooperation with participating universities to deal with refugee issues. As Prof. Al-Khasawneh explained, this unit was established and outfitted with modern equipment that enables the Refugees and Displaced Persons Center to develop its research and training programs and build sustainable services that serve refugees and refugee issues.
