The International Center for Refugee and Migration Studies (ICRMS) held its first Task Force Meeting on Thursday, 19 September 2024, at the Video Conference Room, BUITEMS. The meeting brought together key representatives from academia, government bodies, and organizations working with Afghan refugees to discuss pressing challenges and propose actionable solutions.
Notable attendees included Prof. Dr. Naheed Haque, Vice Chancellor of Sardar Bahadur Khan Women’s University; Dr. Zahoor Bazai, Vice Chancellor of University of Balochistan; Dr. Abdul Rehman, Pro-Vice Chancellor of BUITEMS; Hassham Durrani, Deputy Director of the Commissionerate for Afghan Refugees; Syed Aurangzaib, Registrar of Bolan University of Medical and Health Sciences (BUMHS); Mr. Shafaqat Ali, Deputy Director of the Inter Board Coordination Committee, Islamabad; Ms. Melissa Alfonso, Human Resource Officer at Inspire Pakistan; Mr. Dara Shikoh, Director Communications BUITEMS and Ms. Noreen Sahar, Education Associate at UNHCR. Additionally, representatives from the admission branches of SBK, BUITEMS, UOB, Loralai University, BUMHS, the Refugee Students Facilitation Center (RSFC), UOB, and Afghan refugee students also participated in the discussions.
The session commenced with opening remarks by Dr. Rahila Sumalani, Director of ICRMS, followed by a presentation delivered by Nafisa, Program and Research Assistant at ICRMS. The presentation outlined the purpose, aims, objectives, and terms of reference (TORs) for the Task Force members, along with a review of outcomes and action plans from previous years.
Representatives from educational institutions and government bodies presented the current status of Afghan refugee enrollment in tertiary education, discussing the unique challenges faced by these students. Dr. Rahila Sumalani encouraged attendees to share their insights and collaborate on drafting proposals to address these challenges. She requested that all institutions come to the next meeting prepared with proposed measures to improve refugee student enrollment and support.
During the meeting, Prof. Dr. Naheed Haque announced that Sardar Bahadur Khan Women’s University (SBK) would extend support to Afghan refugee students in the upcoming admission process, in alignment with the efforts of other universities in Balochistan. Participants also discussed the social and financial challenges faced by refugee students in higher education.
Afghan refugee students had the opportunity to engage with representatives from UNHCR, Inspire Pakistan, and the Commissionerate for Afghan Refugees (CAR), raising questions about increasing DAFI scholarships, financial assistance, and addressing other documentational challenges.
Key Recommendations
Crash Courses or Zero Semester: Implement programs for capacity-building to better prepare refugee students for success in enrolling and completing their higher education.
Reserved Seats: Engage in consultations on reserving or increasing the number of seats allocated for refugee students across higher education institutions.
Admission Support: Universities should update their websites, prospectuses, and admission forms to accommodate refugee students and ensure clear guidance on the admission process.
Skills Enhancement: Organize training workshops, seminars, and skill-building initiatives to strengthen the competencies of enrolled students and focus on producing quality graduates.
Data Verification: Appoint focal persons from universities to verify the enrollment data of DAFI scholars to ensure accurate tracking and support.
The participants agreed upon the agenda for the next Task Force Meeting, with draft proposals to be reviewed at that time.
