In the News

Academics and students “are being forced to flee their homes and homelands at a level not seen since World War II.”

IIE’s Scholar Rescue Fund is seeing an increase in requests for help among foreign academics and students who are being displaced due to violence and political persecution.  Three scholars who have recently fled to the U.S. share their stories, which “demonstrate the growing threats to dissident intellectuals around the world."

IIE-SRF Chairman Mark Angelson and IIE President and CEO Allan Goodman explain in their L.A. Times op-ed how the advances of Islamic State are threatening academics in Iraq and Syria. “We are working to provide as many of these scholars as possible with fellowships and secure places to continue their work until they can return safely to rebuild their once flourishing academic communities, but much more is needed.”

“Education is the orphan of any war.”  IIE President and CEO Allan E. Goodman and President Jorge Sampaio of Portugal appeal to the international community to help.

IIE’s Daniela Z. Kaisth and James R. King call on “governments, universities and NGOs to find solutions so that Syrian scholars can teach and Syrian students can learn, even in the midst of conflict and crisis.”

Iraqi universities are becoming conflict zones as ISIS militants clash with Iraqi government forces. Inside Higher Ed reports on the current situation and IIE Scholar Rescue Fund’s experience assisting threatened Iraqi professors.