UPEI to support ten Syrian students in response to crisis
The University of Prince Edward Island is initiating a new project in response to the ongoing crisis and conflict in Syria. The 'UPEI Syrian Student Project', led by UPEI’s International Relations Office (IRO) and the Robertson Library, will support up to ten students currently living in Syria who are unable to continue their studies due to conflict. The UPEI Syrian Student Project will provide:
• Full tuition for one year via the new Syrian Student Scholarship
• Free access to UPEI’s EAP services
• A student laptop from the Robertson Library
The students eligible for the project will come to UPEI from various stages of their post-secondary education. The project would provide the student’s first full year of study up to $12,000.
The project was conceived in a conversation between colleagues at UPEI’s Welcome Day and moved quickly from there.
“We have watched the Syrian humanitarian crisis on TV and have been moved to help complete strangers,” said Dr. Barbara Campbell, Director of International Relations at UPEI. “With the beginning of our UPEI Syrian Student Project, we have a chance to help young students who are family members of our local Syrian community. This is family helping family as we welcome them to come and study at UPEI.”
The UPEI Syrian Student Project team will also facilitate finding employment on campus for as many of the students as possible. The team is currently seeking additional supports for the students from various organizations for subsequent years of study.
“On behalf of UPEI, I am pleased to support this initiative to create scholarships for post-secondary students living in war-torn Syria," said UPEI President Alaa Abd-El-Aziz. “I am so proud that many UPEI and community members were able to mobilize so quickly during this ongoing and evolving crisis to develop this unique program that will allow up to ten Syrian students to continue their studies.”
UPEI is working with Prince Edward Island’s Syrian community to identify students eligible for the Syrian Student Project and Syrian Student Scholarships. A number of students have already been identified who are currently enrolled in a Syrian university, but are unable to resume their studies because of the conflict.
