International Credit Mobilities of Syrians during Conflict: Opportunities and Challenges

Abstract

The national and international mobilities of Syrian students during the Syrian conflict represents a unique phenomenon and a rich study case. The International Credit Mobility (ICM) program offered by the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) of the European Union gives Syrian students a glimpse of hope in a period when opportnuities to study abroad are rare. This chapter presents the state que of the application of ICM in Syria as well as its impact and challangese to Syrian students and higher education institutions. It highlights certain EACEA assumptions about students’ selection and motivation for undertaking ICMs and discusses their implications for ICM program impact and participant representation. A set of conclusions are offered based on a critical analysis of these representations to increase the impact of this program on Syrian students and higher education institutions which may consider  implementation of similar mobility programs.