STUDENTS fleeing the war in Ukraine and arriving into Northern Ireland are to be helped by the Open University.
A raft of measures are being introduced, including financial support and assistance for existing OU students and a funding lifeline to potential students from Ukraine coming to live in the UK.
The OU said it wants Ukrainian students to "realise their educational ambition despite the horrific circumstances through which they arrived here".
Part of the OU’s support package includes extensive free online resources on its platform OpenLearn, with a further free-to-learn cultural and language course being created aimed at those housing, caring for or working with Ukrainians.
The support package also includes fee waivers for existing students from Ukraine and resources dedicated to supporting those now living in Northern Ireland, including free language training and mental and wellbeing support.
The OU is also launching 12 'Sanctuary Scholarships' amounting to £240,000, complete with study starter pack and access to careers and employability services. The scholarships will be on offer for the next three years, awarding a full fee waiver amounting to £20,000 per student.
It is designed to help refugees, forced migrants and people seeking asylum, those fleeing armed conflict, violence, or persecution in their home nation, including those currently affected by the war in Ukraine.
A further 50 fully funded places will be offered on OU Access Modules starting in Autumn 2022 with the aim of providing qualifying applicants with the skills and confidence to progress into higher education.
Michael Bower from The Open University said: "This scholarship fund will ensure that those fleeing conflict or persecution can invest in their future through the OU and realise their educational ambition despite the horrific circumstances through which they arrived here.
"The Open University is here to support those who are seeking refuge in Northern Ireland and to also support host families with new educational resources to help them learn the Ukrainian language and gain an understanding of Ukrainian history and culture."
Rasha Mourd (33), a former refugee from Syria, is currently studying with OU in Northern Ireland for a BSc (Hons) IT and Computing.
"I decided to complete my study at The Open University as it is an amazing opportunity to study in this country and because I knew if I study at the university that will reflect positively not only on me but on my family and the whole community also," she said.
"Completing study was my dream for a long time but difficult circumstances obstructed me to do that.
"These scholarships are a really great opportunity to give people a chance to build a better future."
