Latest news with #Scholarships
CBC
5 days ago
- Politics
- CBC
As Palestinian students await Canadian visas, some are welcomed by France
Several Palestinian graduate students awaiting visas to study in Canada have been accepted by France in the last two weeks, said a group of professors advocating to bring them here. The group says dozens of students who received scholarships or admission letters from Canadian universities have been stranded as they face delays from Canada's Immigration Department. Palestinian Students and Scholars at Risk (PSSAR) says the fact that some of those students are on their way to France — or have already arrived — is a sign of the Canadian government's neglect. "We're happy that the [students] actually got an opportunity," said Ayman Oweida, a health science professor at the Université de Sherbrooke and chair of PSSAR. "The heartbreak is that they did not come to us, when we've really put everything we can to have them come here." The students and professors began publicly raising alarms over the delays earlier this month. At the time, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) told CBC News it does not have the ability to conduct security clearance checks — obtaining biometric information such as photos and fingerprints — on the ground in Gaza, making it harder for Palestinians trying to enter Canada. It also acknowledged there could be delays for students who have already left Gaza. It said visa processing times can vary based on "whether an application is complete, if IRCC has to wait for additional information, how easily IRCC can verify the information provided and the complexity of an application." 'Dreams in Gaza destroyed' Ihab, a graduate student who just got accepted into Centrale Méditerranée, a university in Marseille, France, said in an interview his first choice was the University of Alberta. "I applied for a visa application at the IRCC, and I am waiting a long time," he said from Marseille. CBC News has agreed not to disclose Ihab's full name because he is worried about the safety of loved ones who remain in Gaza. CBC News saw an admission letter from the University of Alberta accepting him into a master's program in mechanical engineering last March, as well as a message from the IRCC acknowledging his visa application from mid-April. Ihab said he got no further communication from Immigration Canada, and applied to Méditerrannée on June 1. An admission letter shows he was accepted into the French university's biomedical engineering master's program on June 17. His French visa was validated just weeks later, on July 10. Ihab said French authorities helped him evacuate Gaza and conducted biometrics tests in Jordan. "I feel the government of France makes a lot of effort," he said, by providing support to students and contacting other organizations to facilitate their arrival. Ihab graduated with a bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering from Al-Azhar University in Gaza City. That campus has been reduced to rubble in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. The enclave no longer has any active universities. The Israeli Defence Forces said they found weapons like rockets and explosives at Al-Azhar, accusing Hamas of using the facility to stage attacks. Ihab said he has friends who applied to Canadian universities in early 2024, and they have yet to leave the war zone. "They stay in Gaza, and their dreams in Gaza destroyed," he said. CBC News saw a similar series of documents for another student, who received an offer from the University of Calgary in June 2024. While the student was waiting for a Canadian visa, they were accepted at France's Université Grenoble Alpes in November 2024 and obtained a scholarship from France at the end of May. The student told PSSAR they now intend to withdraw from the University of Calgary. Three other students have also informed the group of their intentions to withdraw from admissions to Canadian schools, one stating they have already been evacuated by France, and the other two saying they have been offered evacuation. At the end of April, the French newspaper Le Monde reported some 115 Palestinians, mostly university scholarship recipients, had arrived in France. Nearly 900 Palestinians arrived from Gaza The Immigration Department did not answer a direct question on whether or not it is consulting with France on best practices to get people out of Gaza. It said in a statement that "as of July 8, more than 1,750 people who exited Gaza have passed security screenings," gaining approval to come to Canada. Of those, 864 have arrived. However, advocates say these are Palestinians who found their own way out of Gaza to Egypt, with no help from the Canadian government. IRCC noted universities make their decisions independently of the department. "However, all prospective international students must meet the requirements of Canada's immigration system — including obtaining a letter from a designated learning institution and securing an approved study permit — before they can travel to Canada." According to a French government website, visa applicants who live in Gaza must make their requests in Ramallah in the West Bank or Jerusalem, due to the ongoing war. France normally employs a third-party organization, VFS Global, to help applicants in Gaza. Oweida said he was surprised how the French government can leverage its diplomatic relationship with Israel to let Palestinians bound to France out of Gaza, in comparison to Ottawa's efforts. "France has had a really critical standpoint against Israel's ongoing war in Gaza," he said. "Canada should be able to do what France did."
Malay Mail
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Higher education minister: Malaysia proposes Asean Institute to unify regional expertise, offers to host in UKM
LANGKAWI, June 20 — Malaysia has proposed the establishment of an Asean Institute to consolidate expertise across various fields among member countries in the region. Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir stated that this proposal was among the topics discussed during the Asean Higher Education Ministers' Roundtable here yesterday. 'Although certain countries have conducted studies at their respective university levels, there isn't a more comprehensive institute for all Asean member states,' he said at a press conference after the roundtable here yesterday. He added that Malaysia has offered to host this Asean Institute, given the country's expertise, including through the Institute of Malaysian and International Studies (Ikmas) at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Furthermore, he noted that the roundtable also discussed student and academic mobility within the region, including exchange programmes that would allow foreign lecturers to teach at educational institutions in Malaysia. 'Additionally, we also agreed to establish a body to manage scholarship matters, namely Asean-GEMS. This platform will be utilised to seek financial resources among Asean member states to provide scholarships,' he said. The Asean Global Exchange for Mobility and Scholarship (Asean-GEMS) is a one-stop platform for information about regional scholarship and mobility programmes throughout the Asean region that was launched last night. This initiative will, among other things, provide access to opportunities and scholarship offers for all Asean students, while also supporting regional integration by encouraging youth mobility and cross-border academic exchanges. Zambry further mentioned that other matters discussed included proposals to establish networks and collaborative platforms among Asean higher education institutions, and to ensure that all discussion outcomes are elevated to the Asean Heads of State Meeting in October. He also remarked that this roundtable successfully brought together all ministers, representatives, and senior education officials from member countries, receiving positive feedback from regional and international participants. Meanwhile, among the delegates, the Chairperson Commission on Higher Education (CHED) of the Philippines, Dr Shirley Castañeda Agrupis, praised Malaysia's efforts in hosting the dialogue, calling it a valuable platform for benchmarking best practices and addressing regional challenges. She stressed the need for harmonising research agendas and recognising academic credentials across Asean member states. 'We dream of borderless education, but without mutual recognition of curricula, student and faculty mobility remains limited,' she noted. Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Isesco) Dr Salim Mohammed Al-Malik has praised Malaysia's commitment to education and innovation following a series of high-level engagements during his visit to the 2025 Asean Ministers of Education and Higher Education Roundtables. Dr Al-Malik underscored the pivotal role of Isesco in supporting its 53 member states, including Malaysia as a founding member, in advancing education, science, and culture, particularly among developing nations. — Bernama
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
26 Alliance career tech students line up jobs after graduation
Twenty-six seniors at Alliance High School were honored May 5 after they committed to jobs after graduation. The students took part in the school's annual Senior Scholarship and Career Commitment Night. The event also featured 52 seniors who together have amassed nearly $1.9 million in scholarship funding. Alliance City Schools also awarded its AllianceWorks Scholarship, which goes to a graduating senior who has completed a career tech program with a two-year, full-tuition scholarship to Stark State. It was awarded to Alayjah Smith. On hand at the ceremony to celebrate the career tech education students were their instructors and their new employers. The following students have full-time positions with benefits waiting for them after graduation, which will be held May 25 at the school: Ohio Gratings, Inc.: Gannon Bing, Nathan Stansbury, Tucker Lam and Nicholas Otto. W.J. Egli Co., Inc.: Jason Yoder. Carnation Design Production, Inc.: Keith Koons. CPA Fabrication & Repair: Samuel Allen. East Trailer: Zachary Cooper, Connor Beckett, Kyle Murphy, Joseph Rowser, Noah Ward, Maxwell Yeager, Quinn Callock and Corrie Bezon. Harding Heating & Cooling: Isaiah Cameron. Mac Trailer: Cassidy Bruce, Elizabeth Neal and Jacob Spurlock. Plaso Construction: Andrew Fortune. Hammond: Maylie Gillman. Vans Tire Pros Auto Repair: Logan Ramsey. Lavery Automotive Sales and Services: Aeden Rich and Jayce Zagray. DeHoff's Nursery: Jason Mergenthaler. U.S. Army: Le'Ann Wagler. This article originally appeared on The Alliance Review: 26 Alliance career tech students line up jobs after graduation
