Change in Exile: Re-invigorating principles of reform and social stability amongst young Syrian refugees in Denmark and Lebanon

This project has been selected by the EUA - European University Association, Higher Education Policy Unit, project consortium in Brussels to be featured in the inHERE good practice catalogue under the categories Preparatory and bridging courses which will be published on a dedicated website the summer of 2017.
This project aims to strengthen collaboration between Danish and MENA academics and practitioners by producing knowledge on the role of education in promoting principles of democracy and reform among Syrian refugee teenagers in exile. The research will focus on formal and non-formal education as avenues for strengthening social stability and cohesion in host communities in Denmark and Syria’s neighbouring countries - mainly Lebanon - that host the majority of these refugees. The project’s objectives are (1) to generate knowledge on the role of education in promoting democratic principles to support social stability between young Syrian refugees and host communities in Denmark and Lebanon; and (2) to enable dialogue and cooperation between academia, municipalities, NGO practitioners and UN agencies from Denmark, Lebanon and other countries neighbouring Syria to share learning experiences and inform policies that support social stability. These objectives will be achieved through desk- and field research in Denmark and Lebanon resulting in an evidence base and collaborative formulation of policy recommendations. Furthermore, cross-learning and networking between academic, practitioner and policy stakeholders in Denmark, Lebanon and Syria’s neighbouring countries will establish an informal network that can support knowledge-based policies and dialogue related to the Syrian crisis.