Germany launched online University for refugees

Germany has launched its first online university
Kiron University‘ for refugees, which offers them a free higher education.

Germany is expecting a record 800,000 refugees and asylum seekers to arrive this year and finding Education, jobs is seen as key for their successful integration.

Based in Berlin, Kiron currently offers courses from five different schools to 1,000 students. At least 15,000 other refugees have shown interest in joining the university.

Christina Al Bdewi’s plans to become a doctor, but her dream shatters after her family fled war torn Syria. To get enroll into German schools, students have to submit documents including the recognition of refugee status from UNHCR and its must to know German language.

There are many like her who could not complete studies after they fled the war torn country.

For students like her the new online university could come to the rescue – it promises to grant refugees internationally recognized degrees without fees and the need to provide all the required documentation.

Kiron University gets its courses, which will be in English, from universities like Harvard, Stanford, MIT, and Yale.

Kiron University says all students need a computer and an internet connection. For those who do not have access to the internet, offline courses are offered.

“Markus, who was working with refugees is overwhelmed by the opportunities this new kind of university offers for refugees who did not have access to higher education.”

Bachelor degrees are offered in business administration, Medicine, architecture, engineering, computer science, and intercultural studies.

Language courses are also available in English and German.

The first two years of the programmes take place online and the third year is offline. Additional services like preparation courses, language courses, psychological counselling, life coaching and several others are offered in Berlin.

For students who do not speak English, the university offers a preparation programme, “English as a Foreign Language”.