This spring, JICUF decided to compile our work on refugee higher education under an initiative titled “Refugee Education Japan (REJ),” and launched a new website.
Since JICUF launched the Syrian Scholars Initiative in 2017 to welcome Syrian students with refugee backgrounds to ICU, we have gradually expanded our support for displaced students, and now are part of global and domestic networks to promote education pathways for refugees.
On Monday, March 18, as one of the organizers of the Japan Education Pathways Network (JEPN), JICUF co-hosted a reunion for Ukrainian and Syrian students who are studying in universities and language schools in Japan at Sophia University. Her Imperial Highness Crown Princess Akishino observed part of the event and conversed with some of the students. Approximately 80 students from across Japan, including 10 Japanese students from host institutions, attended the event.
On February 12 and 13, 2024, JICUF co-organized the “Asia Pacific Complementary Education Pathways Community of Practice meeting” in Manila, the Philippines with the Embassy of Canada to the Philippines, De La Salle University, Refugee Education Special Interest Group of Australia, and Pathways Japan. More than 40 participants gathered to discuss the way forward in supporting refugees through higher education.
The second Global Refugee Forum will be held in Geneva from December 13 to 15. JICUF submitted a pledge to the Forum to continue supporting refugee higher education.
On May 17 and 18, JICUF co-hosted a conference titled “Expanding Refugee Education Pathways” at Sophia University with the Global Task Force on Third Country Education Pathways (GTF), Pathways Japan, and Sophia University. About 60 participants from 20 countries gathered to discuss how to increase educational opportunities for refugee students to provide a safe pathway to a third country.
From March 30 to April 1, third-year undergraduate student at ICU Hikari Hirata, PhD candidate at Waseda University Suzan Housseini, and JICUF Vice President Aki Takada attended a conference titled “Students as Partners: Equipping Student Leaders as Partners for Sustainable Humanitarian Action” at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Canada.
JICUF has helped recruit seven Syrian students through the Syrian Scholars Initiative. This year marks the final year of student recruitment for SSI, and we will continue to support refugee and displaced students through other means, including funding the Japanese Language School Pathways program administered by the NPO Pathways Japan.
In May, five Ukrainian students were welcomed to ICU through the Japan-Ukraine University Pathways program co-managed by JICUF and Pathways Japan. The program has since expanded to other universities in Japan.
Mr. Norimasa Orii graduated from ICU in 1991, and ICU High School in 1987. He has played a crucial role in JICUF’s scholarship program for Syrian students, the Syrian Scholars Initiative. In 2017, as Program Manager at the Japan Association for Refugees, Mr. Orii helped JICUF establish the Initiative, and has since worked with us to reach out to Syrian students in Turkey, identify eligible students, facilitate their entry to Japan, and support them after arrival. We asked the current Representative Director of Pathways Japan to reflect on his time at ICU and his career.
In July, JICUF launched a series of online meetings with UNHCR to discuss higher education initiatives for refugees in Asia and the Pacific with institutions across the region. Two sessions have already been held, with about 80 participants representing close to 20 countries across the region. Two more sessions will be held in September.
