Preparing students for the future
Since 2017 we have been helping learners in Jordan and Lebanon access higher education.
The Partnership for Digital Learning and Increased Access (PADILEIA) is an initiative under the Strategic Partnerships for Higher Education Innovation and Reform (SPHEIR), funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). The project is running from 2017-2021, and aims to facilitate access to higher education for those displaced and affected by the Syrian crisis in Jordan and Lebanon. We offer campuses in both Lebanon and Jordan for those taking blended courses. We also offer purely digital courses for those studying independently.
Can you help?
We need study spaces in Lebanon and Jordan, as well as support with mentoring and scholarship preparation.
Our Partners
Running from 2016 to 2022, Strategic Partnerships for Higher Education Innovation and Reform (SPHEIR) is a £45 million Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office fund to support higher education transformation in focus countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and the Middle East. The programme aims to transform the quality, relevance, scale, accessibility and affordability of higher education – helping to address challenges and generate the job-ready, skilled graduates that business and societies need.
Al al-Bayt University (AABU) is a public coeducational university in Mafraq, Jordan which was founded in 1992. AABU’s academic offerings are provided today through nine colleges, three institutes, and the graduate deanship. The university offers 39 undergraduate programs, 35 master’s degree programs, and 2 PhD programs. The primary functions of the university are teaching, research and community service. AABU is very active in training programs in marketable skills that target the local community, and Syrian refugees and underprivileged Jordanians in particular, as the university is located near the Syrian borders and the largest camp for Syrian refugees, Zaatari Refugee Camp.
The American University of Beirut is a leading university in the Arab region, founded in 1866, combining a liberal arts with world-class professional education. AUB’s Center for Civic Engagement and Community Service identifies priorities for research and development that respond to societal challenges and implements high-impact interventions in partnership with local and international stakeholders. Within PADILEIA, AUB leads the Foundation Certificate and engages learners in KCL’s MOOC courses utilizing its innovative “Ghata” portable classrooms. Other AUB-CCECS projects – reaching more than 20,000 direct beneficiaries since 2015 – focus on quality education for Lebanese and refugee youth, urban recovery from the Beirut Explosion, vocational training for the digital economy, and community-based psychosocial support.
FutureLearn is a leading social learning platform jointly owned by The Open University and The SEEK Group. FutureLearn partners with over a quarter of the world’s top universities and has millions of learners taking short online courses, microcredentials, and undergraduate and postgraduate degrees that improve their working lives.
King’s College London is a world-leading university at the heart of London with a truly global perspective. Since our foundation in 1829, our students and staff have dedicated themselves in the service of society. In line with this vision, The Sanctuary Programme was formed in 2015 in response to the global issue of forced displacement. Building on King’s deep commitment to widening participation, it aims to initiate and lead on projects that create positive opportunities for young people whose education has been disrupted due to being displaced. The Sanctuary Programme includes a range of projects, including PADILEIA, Sanctuary Scholarships and the Refugee Community Sponsorship scheme.
Kiron Open Higher Education (Kiron) is an NGO founded in 2015 to empower refugees worldwide and underserved communities in the Middle East through online learning opportunities. Kiron provides access to higher education learning for refugees who lack the documents, language skills or specific study skills to enter a university or find a job. Kiron’s vision is a world in which everyone has an equal chance to access and succeed in higher education. Our mission is to provide digital learning opportunities for academic, professional, and personal growth. Through an innovative model, Kiron offers free, tailor-made study programs and short courses by clustering Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) from renowned educational providers and Open Educational Resources (OERs). Our offers are combined with support services such as tutorials, language courses, and mentoring to guide the students on their educational journey. On our learning platform, Kiron Campus, students can gain relevant knowledge and skills to enter university or the job market. Currently, more than 12,000 students study with us worldwide.