The Chairman of the Board of Directors of Almamlaka Channel, Ali Al-Ayed, sponsored launching the research network of the Refugees, Displaced Persons and Forced Migration Studies Center at Yarmouk University. He also attended a symposium on “Media and Art and their Role in Forming Human and Social Values”, which was organized by the Refugees Center at Yarmouk University in cooperation with the ALECSO Chair for Asylum, Displacement and Forced Migration on the occasion of the International Day for Humanitarian Action and the International Day for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings. The symposium was attended by the assistant president of Yarmouk, Professor Ziad Zreiqat, the head of the National Steering Committee, Media and Culture in the House of Representatives, Mr. Yasar Khasawneh, the editor-in-chief of Al-Rai newspaper, Dr. Khaled Al-Shagran, the artist Shayesh Al-Nuaimi, and the founder of Abaq Al-Loun initiative, the artist Suhail Baqain.

Al-Ayed expressed his happiness to be at Yarmouk University and launch a national research network concerned with geopolitical issues like asylum and migration, pointing out that such a network provides a nucleus of original, renewed research for decision makers at the national and international levels. He then praised the efforts of Yarmouk University for establishing the Refugee Center, the Department of Fine Arts, and the Department of Journalism and Media, noting that the topic of today’s symposium tackles a central topic concerning the value of art and media for human and social values. Al-Ayed also mentioned that celebrating the World Day for Humanitarian Action and the International Day for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings acknowledges the great effort made by armed forces, security services, and other Jordanian institutions in favor of humanity and civil rights.  

In return, the Director of the Center, Dr. Reem Al-Kharouf, welcomed the participants emphasizing that ​​the research network provides a solution for the lack of qualitative scientific research in the field of asylum and immigration. The network, she explained, is needed by local and international decision-makers to better understand the reality and issues of asylum. She added that the network is one of several steps linked to the strategic plan of the Refugees Center as well as Yarmouk University's interest in supporting media and art sectors due to their involvement in asylum issues. Moreover, Dr. Ali Shehadeh delivered a speech on behalf of the research network members, stressing that the network strives to generate and mobilize knowledge among academics, decision-makers, and policy-makers concerning asylum. He then pointed out that the network’s goal is to establish an integrated network to strengthen links in all areas of refugee and forced migration studies, which should provide a better understanding of the topic under discussion.