The International Center for Refugee and Migration Studies (ICRMS) hosted the second Task Force meeting on October 9, 2024, at the ORIC Conference Room, BUITEMS. The Task Force’s primary objective is to increase refugee students’ enrolment in tertiary education. Attendees included Dr. Abdul Rehman, Pro-VC BUITEMS, Dr. Rahila Umar, Director ICRMS, Dr. Ehsan Ullah Kakar, VC University of Loralai, and Dr. Abdul Samad Assistant Professor at UoL. Sardar Bahadur Khan Women University (SBKWU) was represented by Ms. Saqiba Anwar and Ms. Saima Kiran, Superintendents of Student Affairs, SBKWU, while Mr. Gul Muhammad Kakar, advisor to the Refugee Student Facilitation Center at University of Balochistan (UoB), joined alongside BUITEMS representatives Dr. Niaz Mohammad Kakar (Director Academics) and Mr. Salar (Deputy Director Admissions). Other participants included Ms. Noreen Sahar, Education Associate at UNHCR, Mr. Syed Aurangzaib, Registrar at BUHMS, and representatives from the Commissionerate for Afghan Refugees (CAR), Mr. Aziz Ur Rehman, Coordinator Education, and Mr. Hassham Durrani, Deputy Director.
The meeting began with the recitation of the Quran, followed by opening remarks from Dr. Rahila Umar. A presentation by Mr. Muhammad Kazim, the Liaison Officer, revisited the objectives of the Task Force and the key actions recommended during the previous meeting. Notable developments included SBKWU allowing students with expired Proof of Registration (PoR) cards to apply for admission at the university, along with an extension of the refugee admission deadline. Additionally, Syed Aurangzaib from BUHMS confirmed that the university has reserved seats for refugee students across all departments, following discussions with their Vice Chancellor. Representatives from the various universities also shared updates on the total number of refugee students currently enrolled.
As the meeting proceeded, the focus shifted to gathering actionable proposals for the upcoming Task Force meetings. Institutions were requested to submit ideas and strategies on how to further support refugee students and enhance their access to tertiary education. These proposals will be reviewed in future meetings to develop targeted initiatives that can help improve refugee enrolment and create sustainable educational opportunities for them.
