With an eagerness to promote access to higher education and foster social harmony, the European Union has unveiled the 'European Union Scholarships Project.' Spearheading this initiative is the ICMPD Country Office in Türkiye, in collaboration with Ankara and Hasan Kalyoncu Universities, as well as Marmara Municipalities Union, as co-applicant consortium members, covering different regions in Türkiye.
The initiative will benefit Syrian students under temporary protection, students under international protection, as well as students with Turkish citizenship. Despite the efforts by the Turkish Government to eliminate barriers to higher education for the project's targeted students, challenges such as financial constraints, language barriers and limited career development opportunities continue to persist. As a result, the current higher education enrolment rates of students under temporary protection and international protection remain lower as compared to the overall university attendance rate.
The European Union Scholarship Project will tackle these challenges head-on and bridge the gap in higher education access not only for the students under protection but also for the Turkish students who are in need of financial support.
With the aim to strengthen social cohesion and inclusion by ensuring that students are not left behind in their higher education, the primary objective of the project is to provide scholarships and skill development opportunities for students starting or continuing their undergraduate and graduate studies.
The three-year implementation period, spanning from January 1, 2023, to December 2025, is set to create synergies between universities, municipalities, government institutions, and international and national organizations. These strategic partnerships will play a vital role in upskilling students and facilitating their integration into higher education, social cohesion, and employment opportunities.
Only students residing in 23 provinces will be able to apply for the European Union Scholarships, which will be awarded for the university tuition fees or pocket money. These provinces are Ankara, Adana, Bursa, Diyarbakir, Elazig, Erzurum, Karabuk, Kayseri, Konya, Eskisehir, Gaziantep, Hatay, Istanbul, Izmir, Kahramanmaras, Kilis, Malatya, Mardin, Mersin, Trabzon, Samsun, Sanliurfa and Van.
With the launch of the project, the European Union takes a bold step towards empowering the youth in Türkiye, fostering social cohesion, and creating a brighter future for those seeking higher education opportunities. The project is expected to be a milestone in strengthening pathways to employment, promoting social integration, and enriching the educational landscape in the region. It stands as a testament to the power of collaboration and cooperation in shaping a better tomorrow for all.
To get more information about European Union Scholarships and to apply for scholarships: www.euburs.org
Contact information to get detailed information about the Project: euburs@icmpd.org