Latest news with #Scholarships
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Voices: Why can't Palestinian students from Gaza take up their university places in Britain?
There are currently 76 Palestinian students in Gaza who, against all odds, have secured places to study at 31 of the UK's top universities. More than 35 of these students have full scholarships, while eight others are waiting for their internet to get back up and running so they can formally accept their unconditional offers. Yet, in spite of their achievements, all of these students are currently unable to take up these hard-earned places, because they are unable to leave Gaza. For a number of them, these places have already been deferred from the last academic year, due to the lack of safe exit routes. One such student, as The Independent previously highlighted, is 22-year-old Dalya Ibrahim Shehada Qeshta. She has been offered a place to study pharmacy at the University of Manchester, while her sister, Dalal, secured a place at the University of Bristol on an aerospace engineering course. Both have family in the UK, but neither can leave Gaza due to physical obstacles and a lack of financial support. In response, the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians – an independent organisation of lawyers, politicians, and academics who aim to protect their rights through the law – signed an open letter with campaign groups of health workers and lawyers, calling for the UK government to take immediate action. And last week, nearly 5,000 academics, myself included, also campaigned for the Starmer administration to facilitate the safe passage of these students from Gaza to the UK. Among them are over 600 professors, four vice chancellors and deputy vice chancellors, 12 deans, eight fellows of the British Academy, and eight holders of OBEs and MBEs. The technical issue is two-fold. The UK requires applicants to enrol their biometric data before an application can be processed, yet the UK-authorised biometrics registration centre in Gaza closed in October 2023. While a biometrics deferral protocol was put in place in 2023 for Ukrainians, Palestinian requests for the deferral have encountered a bureaucratic stone wall. Although the government says there are pathways for application, not a single one has been approved, even for scholars with government-issued scholarships. Moreover, if students do secure these biometric deferrals, which would allow them to do their biometric registration in a third country (for instance, Jordan or Egypt), they cannot leave Gaza. Therefore, the government must facilitate both biometric deferral and a feasible exit path. On August 6, another letter signed by over 100 MPs was sent to Prime Minister Keir Starmer calling for urgent action on this issue. Notably, the governments of Ireland, Italy, France, Germany, and Belgium have all evacuated students with university degree offers, as part of wider evacuation efforts to provide urgent medical care, particularly to Palestinian children. There is no plausible reason for the UK government not to follow suit. The profiles and aspirations of a number of these students have already been widely reported. Students who took English language tests, wrote admissions essays, and did virtual interviews under the most horrendous conditions – many from tents and makeshift Wi-Fi hubs – are in limbo as they wait for the UK government to take action. The IDF has bombed all 11 universities in Gaza, leaving 88,000 students unable to continue their studies. Some of these universities were destroyed entirely; others were taken over as military bases, or centres for the interrogation and torture of detainees. Enabling the continuing education of students is not only vital for the future reconstruction of academic space in Gaza, but for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip as a whole. Throughout May and June, this issue has been repeatedly discussed in parliament, but so far, there has been no change in the requirements for students in Gaza, and there is still no way out. This is despite the UK government's recent announcement that it intends to facilitate the evacuation of children from Gaza for urgent medical treatment. As of last week, only three children from Gaza have arrived for treatment in the UK. In 2024, a group of academics and university administrators of Gaza universities issued an appeal for action. Scholasticide – the systematic destruction of educational institutions, as well as the targeted assassination of students and scholars – continues to ravage what is left of Gaza. If the UK government fails to allow the safe passage of these promising scholars, they will remain complicit in the crime of scholasticide. Over 4,800 UK academics are committed to taking up the call. They share the view of their colleagues in Gaza that education is a fundamental human right. These are testing times, and the government's position on this matter is a measure of its commitment to universal values of human rights, justice, and equal opportunities. Will it practice what it preaches and facilitate entry for these heroic young scholars, or will it continue to abandon them to the tender mercies of the Israeli war machine? Avi Shlaim is an emeritus professor of International Relations at the University of Oxford and the author of Genocide in Gaza: Israel's Long War on Palestine Solve the daily Crossword
The Independent
a day ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Why can't Palestinian students from Gaza take up their university places in Britain?
There are currently 76 Palestinian students in Gaza who, against all odds, have secured places to study at 31 of the UK's top universities. More than 35 of these students have full scholarships, while eight others are waiting for their internet to get back up and running so they can formally accept their unconditional offers. Yet, in spite of their achievements, all of these students are currently unable to take up these hard-earned places, because they are unable to leave Gaza. For a number of them, these places have already been deferred from the last academic year, due to the lack of safe exit routes. One such student, as The Independent previously highlighted, is 22-year-old Dalya Ibrahim Shehada Qeshta. She has been offered a place to study pharmacy at the University of Manchester, while her sister, Dalal, secured a place at the University of Bristol on an aerospace engineering course. Both have family in the UK, but neither can leave Gaza due to physical obstacles and a lack of financial support. In response, the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians – an independent organisation of lawyers, politicians, and academics who aim to protect their rights through the law – signed an open letter with campaign groups of health workers and lawyers, calling for the UK government to take immediate action. And last week, nearly 5,000 academics, myself included, also campaigned for the Starmer administration to facilitate the safe passage of these students from Gaza to the UK. Among them are over 600 professors, four vice chancellors and deputy vice chancellors, 12 deans, eight fellows of the British Academy, and eight holders of OBEs and MBEs. The technical issue is two-fold. The UK requires applicants to enrol their biometric data before an application can be processed, yet the UK-authorised biometrics registration centre in Gaza closed in October 2023. While a biometrics deferral protocol was put in place in 2023 for Ukrainians, Palestinian requests for the deferral have encountered a bureaucratic stone wall. Although the government says there are pathways for application, not a single one has been approved, even for scholars with government-issued scholarships. Moreover, if students do secure these biometric deferrals, which would allow them to do their biometric registration in a third country (for instance, Jordan or Egypt), they cannot leave Gaza. Therefore, the government must facilitate both biometric deferral and a feasible exit path. On August 6, another letter signed by over 100 MPs was sent to Prime Minister Keir Starmer calling for urgent action on this issue. Notably, the governments of Ireland, Italy, France, Germany, and Belgium have all evacuated students with university degree offers, as part of wider evacuation efforts to provide urgent medical care, particularly to Palestinian children. There is no plausible reason for the UK government not to follow suit. The profiles and aspirations of a number of these students have already been widely reported. Students who took English language tests, wrote admissions essays, and did virtual interviews under the most horrendous conditions – many from tents and makeshift Wi-Fi hubs – are in limbo as they wait for the UK government to take action. The IDF has bombed all 11 universities in Gaza, leaving 88,000 students unable to continue their studies. Some of these universities were destroyed entirely; others were taken over as military bases, or centres for the interrogation and torture of detainees. Enabling the continuing education of students is not only vital for the future reconstruction of academic space in Gaza, but for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip as a whole. Throughout May and June, this issue has been repeatedly discussed in parliament, but so far, there has been no change in the requirements for students in Gaza, and there is still no way out. This is despite the UK government's recent announcement that it intends to facilitate the evacuation of children from Gaza for urgent medical treatment. As of last week, only three children from Gaza have arrived for treatment in the UK. In 2024, a group of academics and university administrators of Gaza universities issued an appeal for action. Scholasticide – the systematic destruction of educational institutions, as well as the targeted assassination of students and scholars – continues to ravage what is left of Gaza. If the UK government fails to allow the safe passage of these promising scholars, they will remain complicit in the crime of scholasticide. Over 4,800 UK academics are committed to taking up the call. They share the view of their colleagues in Gaza that education is a fundamental human right. These are testing times, and the government's position on this matter is a measure of its commitment to universal values of human rights, justice, and equal opportunities. Will it practice what it preaches and facilitate entry for these heroic young scholars, or will it continue to abandon them to the tender mercies of the Israeli war machine?
CBC
18-07-2025
- Politics
- CBC
As Palestinian students await Canadian visas, some are welcomed by France
Several Palestinian graduate students awaiting visas to study in Canada have been accepted by France in the last two weeks, said a group of professors advocating to bring them here. The group says dozens of students who received scholarships or admission letters from Canadian universities have been stranded as they face delays from Canada's Immigration Department. Palestinian Students and Scholars at Risk (PSSAR) says the fact that some of those students are on their way to France — or have already arrived — is a sign of the Canadian government's neglect. "We're happy that the [students] actually got an opportunity," said Ayman Oweida, a health science professor at the Université de Sherbrooke and chair of PSSAR. "The heartbreak is that they did not come to us, when we've really put everything we can to have them come here." The students and professors began publicly raising alarms over the delays earlier this month. At the time, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) told CBC News it does not have the ability to conduct security clearance checks — obtaining biometric information such as photos and fingerprints — on the ground in Gaza, making it harder for Palestinians trying to enter Canada. It also acknowledged there could be delays for students who have already left Gaza. It said visa processing times can vary based on "whether an application is complete, if IRCC has to wait for additional information, how easily IRCC can verify the information provided and the complexity of an application." 'Dreams in Gaza destroyed' Ihab, a graduate student who just got accepted into Centrale Méditerranée, a university in Marseille, France, said in an interview his first choice was the University of Alberta. "I applied for a visa application at the IRCC, and I am waiting a long time," he said from Marseille. CBC News has agreed not to disclose Ihab's full name because he is worried about the safety of loved ones who remain in Gaza. CBC News saw an admission letter from the University of Alberta accepting him into a master's program in mechanical engineering last March, as well as a message from the IRCC acknowledging his visa application from mid-April. Ihab said he got no further communication from Immigration Canada, and applied to Méditerrannée on June 1. An admission letter shows he was accepted into the French university's biomedical engineering master's program on June 17. His French visa was validated just weeks later, on July 10. Ihab said French authorities helped him evacuate Gaza and conducted biometrics tests in Jordan. "I feel the government of France makes a lot of effort," he said, by providing support to students and contacting other organizations to facilitate their arrival. Ihab graduated with a bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering from Al-Azhar University in Gaza City. That campus has been reduced to rubble in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. The enclave no longer has any active universities. The Israeli Defence Forces said they found weapons like rockets and explosives at Al-Azhar, accusing Hamas of using the facility to stage attacks. Ihab said he has friends who applied to Canadian universities in early 2024, and they have yet to leave the war zone. "They stay in Gaza, and their dreams in Gaza destroyed," he said. CBC News saw a similar series of documents for another student, who received an offer from the University of Calgary in June 2024. While the student was waiting for a Canadian visa, they were accepted at France's Université Grenoble Alpes in November 2024 and obtained a scholarship from France at the end of May. The student told PSSAR they now intend to withdraw from the University of Calgary. Three other students have also informed the group of their intentions to withdraw from admissions to Canadian schools, one stating they have already been evacuated by France, and the other two saying they have been offered evacuation. At the end of April, the French newspaper Le Monde reported some 115 Palestinians, mostly university scholarship recipients, had arrived in France. Nearly 900 Palestinians arrived from Gaza The Immigration Department did not answer a direct question on whether or not it is consulting with France on best practices to get people out of Gaza. It said in a statement that "as of July 8, more than 1,750 people who exited Gaza have passed security screenings," gaining approval to come to Canada. Of those, 864 have arrived. However, advocates say these are Palestinians who found their own way out of Gaza to Egypt, with no help from the Canadian government. IRCC noted universities make their decisions independently of the department. "However, all prospective international students must meet the requirements of Canada's immigration system — including obtaining a letter from a designated learning institution and securing an approved study permit — before they can travel to Canada." According to a French government website, visa applicants who live in Gaza must make their requests in Ramallah in the West Bank or Jerusalem, due to the ongoing war. France normally employs a third-party organization, VFS Global, to help applicants in Gaza. Oweida said he was surprised how the French government can leverage its diplomatic relationship with Israel to let Palestinians bound to France out of Gaza, in comparison to Ottawa's efforts. "France has had a really critical standpoint against Israel's ongoing war in Gaza," he said. "Canada should be able to do what France did."
Malay Mail
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Higher education minister: Malaysia proposes Asean Institute to unify regional expertise, offers to host in UKM
LANGKAWI, June 20 — Malaysia has proposed the establishment of an Asean Institute to consolidate expertise across various fields among member countries in the region. Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir stated that this proposal was among the topics discussed during the Asean Higher Education Ministers' Roundtable here yesterday. 'Although certain countries have conducted studies at their respective university levels, there isn't a more comprehensive institute for all Asean member states,' he said at a press conference after the roundtable here yesterday. He added that Malaysia has offered to host this Asean Institute, given the country's expertise, including through the Institute of Malaysian and International Studies (Ikmas) at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Furthermore, he noted that the roundtable also discussed student and academic mobility within the region, including exchange programmes that would allow foreign lecturers to teach at educational institutions in Malaysia. 'Additionally, we also agreed to establish a body to manage scholarship matters, namely Asean-GEMS. This platform will be utilised to seek financial resources among Asean member states to provide scholarships,' he said. The Asean Global Exchange for Mobility and Scholarship (Asean-GEMS) is a one-stop platform for information about regional scholarship and mobility programmes throughout the Asean region that was launched last night. This initiative will, among other things, provide access to opportunities and scholarship offers for all Asean students, while also supporting regional integration by encouraging youth mobility and cross-border academic exchanges. Zambry further mentioned that other matters discussed included proposals to establish networks and collaborative platforms among Asean higher education institutions, and to ensure that all discussion outcomes are elevated to the Asean Heads of State Meeting in October. He also remarked that this roundtable successfully brought together all ministers, representatives, and senior education officials from member countries, receiving positive feedback from regional and international participants. Meanwhile, among the delegates, the Chairperson Commission on Higher Education (CHED) of the Philippines, Dr Shirley Castañeda Agrupis, praised Malaysia's efforts in hosting the dialogue, calling it a valuable platform for benchmarking best practices and addressing regional challenges. She stressed the need for harmonising research agendas and recognising academic credentials across Asean member states. 'We dream of borderless education, but without mutual recognition of curricula, student and faculty mobility remains limited,' she noted. Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Isesco) Dr Salim Mohammed Al-Malik has praised Malaysia's commitment to education and innovation following a series of high-level engagements during his visit to the 2025 Asean Ministers of Education and Higher Education Roundtables. Dr Al-Malik underscored the pivotal role of Isesco in supporting its 53 member states, including Malaysia as a founding member, in advancing education, science, and culture, particularly among developing nations. — Bernama
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
26 Alliance career tech students line up jobs after graduation
Twenty-six seniors at Alliance High School were honored May 5 after they committed to jobs after graduation. The students took part in the school's annual Senior Scholarship and Career Commitment Night. The event also featured 52 seniors who together have amassed nearly $1.9 million in scholarship funding. Alliance City Schools also awarded its AllianceWorks Scholarship, which goes to a graduating senior who has completed a career tech program with a two-year, full-tuition scholarship to Stark State. It was awarded to Alayjah Smith. On hand at the ceremony to celebrate the career tech education students were their instructors and their new employers. The following students have full-time positions with benefits waiting for them after graduation, which will be held May 25 at the school: Ohio Gratings, Inc.: Gannon Bing, Nathan Stansbury, Tucker Lam and Nicholas Otto. W.J. Egli Co., Inc.: Jason Yoder. Carnation Design Production, Inc.: Keith Koons. CPA Fabrication & Repair: Samuel Allen. East Trailer: Zachary Cooper, Connor Beckett, Kyle Murphy, Joseph Rowser, Noah Ward, Maxwell Yeager, Quinn Callock and Corrie Bezon. Harding Heating & Cooling: Isaiah Cameron. Mac Trailer: Cassidy Bruce, Elizabeth Neal and Jacob Spurlock. Plaso Construction: Andrew Fortune. Hammond: Maylie Gillman. Vans Tire Pros Auto Repair: Logan Ramsey. Lavery Automotive Sales and Services: Aeden Rich and Jayce Zagray. DeHoff's Nursery: Jason Mergenthaler. U.S. Army: Le'Ann Wagler. This article originally appeared on The Alliance Review: 26 Alliance career tech students line up jobs after graduation
