In the News

Many displaced academics and scientists aren't able to reach their full potential in their fields due to a lack of resources for threatened scholars. The Guardian explores the reasons why, with two IIE-SRF scholars offering their perspective. 

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) organized a symposium titled “The Role of Science Diplomacy in International Crises: Syria as a Case Study” to discuss ways for the international science and technology communities to respond to crises and published their findings in Science & Diplomacy. 

This article from the Huffington Post offers the opinion of Ford Foundation Professor Frenando Reimers, as he explores how higher education is crucial to American democracy. 

The Latin American Studies Association (LASA) quarterly newsletter Forum featured an article on IIE-SRF, discussing the program's history and its global impact. IIE-SRF has supported scholars from Latin American countries such as Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and Venezuela. The article offers the perspective of various stakeholders within IIE-SRF, offering a view of the threats many scholars face, and the value added to host institutions through scholars sharing their knowledge.

After an arduous two years of violence and uncertainty, Dr. Rana Mustafa, a Syrian specialist in food science and IIE-SRF fellow, has found safety and an academic home in Saskatoon, Canada. CBC News highlighted the journey of Dr. Mustafa and her family that led them to the city that she now calls her second home. 

The global refugee crisis now stands at 65 million forcibly displaced people, according to the United Nations. Could the world ever have imagined a number exceeding that produced by the Nazis and World War II? The conflict over Syria alone, raging since 2011, has so far resulted in more than 11 million refugees and internally displaced persons. Over the past year, international summits have convened to address this global crisis, including the United Nations Summit in September. There is a growing view that the world must recognize these individuals not as part of a temporary emergency, but as a long-term challenge, and one where higher education can play a major role.