The Education Above All (EAA) Foundation and Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE), in collaboration with Unesco, conducted an orientation workshop for the Unesco Qualifications Passport (UQP) recently.
This initiative aims to ensure access to tertiary and higher education for refugees and vulnerable migrants, contributing to their inclusion and integration.
The UQP is a universal tool for recognition of prior learning that contributes to ensuring the right to access tertiary and higher education for forcibly displaced youth in the framework of the Sustainable Development Goal 4.
The UQP is one of Unesco’s flagship initiatives contributing to the Global Compacts on Refugees and on Migration.
Qatar has played a pivotal role in this initiative, co-leading with Unesco to address educational challenges for refugees and vulnerable migrants.
This partnership highlights Qatar's commitment to promoting the UQP and facilitating the integration of displaced individuals into higher education systems globally.
The workshop saw the participation of top policymakers, international experts, and representatives of academic institutions and professional organisations.
Discussions focused on the UQP's recognition methodology and promising practices, successfully implemented in Europe and Africa.
MoEHE acting director of scholarships Nourah al-Ansari and Talal al-Hothal, the director of the EAA’s Al Fakhoora Programme, delivered welcoming addresses.
These were followed by opening remarks from Salah Khaled, the director of the Unesco Doha Office.
A series of sessions then explored the scope, implementation, and international impact of the UQP initiative.
"We believe that education is a powerful catalyst for change, driving social and economic development across the globe,” said al-Hothal. “Through initiatives like the UQP, we are committed to enhancing educational opportunities and empowering individuals in crisis situations, ensuring that every learner has the tools they need to succeed in a rapidly evolving world."
“In the light of the current severe conflicts and attacks across the globe, refugees and immigrants are facing hindering obstacles in resuming their higher education,” said MoEHE acting assistant undersecretary for education and higher education affairs Dr Hareb Aljabri. “The UQP initiative came as a flagship response to ensure their smooth integration into higher education, hence granting their right to continue learning for a better prospering future.”
“Globally, only 7% of crisis-affected youth have access to higher education, largely due to barriers related to recognition of prior learning,” Khaled said. “The UQP is driven by the vision that forcibly displaced persons are not a burden on societies, on the contrary, through their knowledge and skills, they can positively contribute to the inclusive and sustainable development of the world.”
