You are invited to participate in the upcoming OUR/UNHCR, Malaysia, 3C Forum (Collaborate, Create, Change). The 3C Forum will be held on 5-6 August 2016 at Bricksfield Asia College, Kuala Lumpur.
There are currently more than 150,000 refugees and undocumented immigrants in Malaysia, the vast majority of whom have very limited access to higher education. Reasons are several: the cost of registration, admissions criteria, legal and technical issues as well as the personal and environmental factors affecting potential students.
OUR – Open Universities for Refugees – is an initiative which seeks to bring together students, universities, donors and non-governmental agencies to build consortia which, individually and collectively, will address these issues to enable more potential students to realise their goal of higher education studies. Over recent weeks, OUR have been working with UNHCR, Malaysia to meet current stakeholders and current and potential students to understand better: the nature of demand for higher education in Kuala Lumpur and the challenges faced by those wishing to access it; the current academic opportunities available, and potential options for the future; the nature of current infrastructure to support potential students, both within communities and amongst current higher and secondary education providers; and the views of other key stakeholders.
In addition, with the assistance of UNHCR, Malaysia and Fugee School, OUR is currently conducting a survey of potential students in KL. The outcomes of both the interviews and the survey will be made available to 3C Forum participants in advance of 5 August. The 3C Forum itself will not only provide the opportunity to discuss these outcomes in more detail, but will seek to facilitate effective collaborations amongst participants leading to funded projects and initiatives to increase access to higher education opportunities in Kuala Lumpur.
One of our goals is to involve as many interested parties and stakeholders as possible to ensure that everyone who has the potential to develop solutions to the challenges posed by the provision of higher education in KL is included. To that end, we would welcome your suggestions regarding potential invitees, and would be equally delighted if you could utilise your networks to spread the word. If you would like to attend, please visit to www.initiativeour.org and complete the on-line registration form. Attendance is free.
Program details of the 3C Forum will be announced on the OUR’s website.
Interviews for the Shortlisted Candidates: early January 2019
Notification of Decision: mid January 2019
HAPPY ENDING
This short film, HAPPY ENDING, tells the stories of two young refugee women from Somalia living in Malaysia and indicates how education has changed their lives.
PAST UPDATES
UPDATES (JANUARY 2018)
Second cohort of CERTE Bridge course took off at Monash University, Malaysia on 4th October 2017
Second CERTE Bridge course was hosted at Monash University Malaysia. Following institutions and individuals were awarded with the OUR Trophy: UNHCR, Brickfields Asia College, Nottingham University, Monash University, Dr. Brian Lariche (Make It Right Movement), Dr. Robin Duncan (T4R) and Ms. Jessica Chapman (T4R and Fugee School)
Third CERTE Bridge course will be hosted during March 2018.
UPDATES (MARCH 2017)
First Outcome of 3C Forum : The CERTE Task Force, in partnership with the Fugee School, Open Universities for Refugees (OUR), the University of Nottingham Malaysia, Brickfields Asia College, and UNHCR Malaysia, is Piloting a “Bridge Course” in March, 2017.
The aim of the Bridge Course is to equip students with the basic knowledge of the application process of higher education institutes; have a better understanding of areas of knowledge and different academic disciplines; have developed basic research skills in writing and presentations; and prepare students with a heightened awareness of the dynamic life of a university campus and have developed a confidence to participate in it.
Participants of the course will have a unique opportunity to participate in university campus visits and meet with university professors at two universities in Malaysia. In addition, students who successfully complete the course will be given the opportunity to sign-up for a continued mentorship program that will provide continued support in their university application process.
OUR’s mission is to facilitate and advocate for accessible higher education opportunities for refugee worldwide. Through strategic partnerships, innovative programs, and community engagement, we aim to break down barriers, provide comprehensive support, and foster a welcoming environment that nurtures academic excellence, personal growth, and intercultural understanding among refugee students.
We are committed to enhancing refugee self- reliance by equipping them with the skills and knowledge needed to rebuild their lives and contribute positively to society. We seek to empower refugees to become self-sufficient and independent individuals.
We strive to expand access to third- country solutions, creating pathways for refugee students to pursue higher education beyond their host countries. By working with universities and academic institutions in various countries, we aim to offer diverse opportunities for refugees to continues their education and access new possibilities for their future.
Amna Shah
Amna, currently residing in Canada, is diligently pursuing a Master of Health Sciences in Medical Genomics at the prestigious University of Toronto. Her active engagement with the Global Tertiary Refugee Student Network underscores her commitment to facilitating higher education access for refugees, while her distinguished role as Director at OUR (Opening Universities for Refugees) exemplifies her dedication to this noble cause.
From 2020 to 2023, Amna served as the Program Coordinator for CERTE Malaysia, contributing significantly to CERTE’s recognition as a Best Practice in the Global Compact on Refugees. During the past five years, she displayed unwavering leadership as a youth advocate at the Dignity for Children Foundation, empowering marginalized youths. Her profound commitment to gender rights is evidenced by her role as the focal point for Women & Girls at Risk, where she effectively raised awareness about sexual and gender-based violence within the refugee community.
Amna’s journey commenced when she sought refuge in Malaysia in 2014, hailing from Pakistan. Despite facing formidable challenges, her remarkable resilience and tenacity propelled her to secure a scholarship to the University of Nottingham, where she attained a B.Sc. (Hons) in Biomedical Science, distinguished by awards such as Best Research Project and Best Research Proposal Pitch. Her academic achievements culminated in her being honoured as the Valedictorian of the class of 2020 at the School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Malaysia.
Gül İnanç
Gül İnanç (Founder) is a diplomatic historian of modern West Asia and has published books and articles on modern Turkish diplomacy, cultural heritage education for peace, religious architecture of Singapore, forced migration in Southeast Asia. Her recent publications include Access to Higher Education: Refugee Stories from Malaysia (co-authored), Routledge, 2018, and Forced Displacement and NGOs in Asia Pacific (co-ed), Routledge, 2022. She is the co-founder of Centre for Asia Pacific Refugee Studies (CAPRS) at University of Auckland, New Zealand and served as the founding co-director between 2020-2023.
She has received the Koh Boon Kwee Scholars Award in August 2016 for inspirational teaching at Nanyang Technological University, NTU, Singapore, where she was affiliated between 2012-2022. She has worked as an expert curriculum developer on UNESCO’s Understanding Shared Histories: A Teaching Package which has been translated into Khmer, Indonesian, Thai and Vietnamese.
She has co-developed educational materials including text books for K12 students on the history and cultural heritage of Cyprus and a Singapore religious heritage game project at the NTU. She is currently based in Savannah, GA and is affiliated to Guilford College, NC as a visiting scholar.
Strategic Goals
Partner with universities and academic institutions to establish scholarship programs specifically designed for refugee students.
Develop and implement support services, such as bridging courses, mentorship, and counselling, to ensure the academic success and well-being of refugee students.
Raise awareness about the importance of higher education for refugees via creative artistic projects.
Establish regional and international networks to share best practices and collaborate on innovative solutions for higher education access.
Secure funding and resources to sustain and expand OUR’s initiatives and reach more refugee students around the world.
Foster strong partnerships with governments, NGOs, and corporations to advocate for policies that support refugees’ right to education and the recognition of their qualifications.
Partner with institutions, which conduct research and collect data to better understand the challenges faced by refugee students and use this knowledge to inform policy recommendations.
OUR Vision
OUR envisions a world where every refugee has equal access to higher education, empowering them to rebuild their lives, unlock their full potential and contribute to the betterment of their communities and the global society.
