Virtual Mobility for Refugees by Renata Suter, Kiron.

1. EADTU Peer Learning Activity - Virtual Mobility, Maastricht – December 12, 2018
Renata Suter, Kiron Open Higher Education
renata.suter@kiron.ngo
@suter_renata
Virtual Mobility for Refugees

2. Higher Education is one of the key factors for self-empowerment and
integration, but less than 1% of refugees attend university (compared to
34% of youth globally) due to four barriers:
Costs
Many refugees cannot
afford regular
universities’ tuition fees
Source: UNHCR
Legal
Lack of clear legal status;
high school certificates are
often not yet accredited in
the host country
College Capacity
Many regular universities
do not have the capacity
to take in significant
numbers of refugee
students
Language
Many refugees do not
yet fulfill the language
requirements at regular
universities
2

3. 2015
GERMANY JORDAN
partner universities with
Status: Aug 2018
LEBANON
Kiron Open Higher Education is a non-profit start-up addressing
a social challenge through scalable technology
VISION
A world in which everyone
has the equal chance to access
and succeed in higher education.
MISSION
Kiron enables access
to higher education and
successful learning for refugees
through digital solutions.
Founded in
different countries
58
cooperation agreements across
8
offices in4 countries3
3

4. Through the Kiron model, refugees can overcome barriers and
access higher education from anywhere in the world:
Costs
No up-front tuition
fees for students
Legal
Official documents not
required to start studying
at Kiron
College Capacity
Capacity increase
through blended
learning
Language
Online content in
multiple languages;
support for language
study
4

5. Social Work
Political Science
Kiron Students
Computer Science
Business & Economics
Mechanical Engineering
Study tracks:
3664 STUDENTS
18% 82%
Female Male
38% 29,5% 13% 10,5% 9%
Study tracks popularity:
5
6,5% 26,5% 34% 20% 5%
15-20 20-25 25-30 30-35 40+
8%
35-40
Most common countries of origin:
Syria Afghanistan Somalia Others
41,7% 9%
6%
43,3%

6. What is Kiron’s Academic Model?
6

7. Kiron’s innovative approach to teaching combines digital
and traditional learning
The remainder at
OFFLINE university
Enrolment for the
remaining semesters
leading up to an
accredited Bachelor’s
degree at a university
Application for
transfer &
recognition of
up to 60 ECTS
Digital application
process to Kiron
Preparational courses &
modules (optional) Specific
modules for
chosen study
track
Language course
ONLINE & BLENDED studies at Kiron
7
University transfer Lifelong learning Certificates

8. ONLINE study phase with Kiron
8

9. Kiron’s Student Journey
Orientation, Admission & Onboarding
Study Activity & Study Success
Transfer Guidance & Transfer Success
Application
“Am I eligible?”
Discovery “Is Kiron
right for me?”
Active Studying
Participation in
Courses, Forum &
Tutorials
Module Completions
Progress along the
chosen Kiron Study
Track
Transfer Readiness
Progress along
transfer requirements
Uni Application
Get accepted by partner Uni
& recognize Kiron credits
Onboarding
“How does online
learning at Kiron work?”
9

10. Language learning opportunities offered
in different formats, support students in
learning the language of their host
countries as well as English.
Modules complemented by Direct
Academics tutorials, i.e. live online
sessions where students meet instructors
and fellow students.
Study groups offer Kiron students a virtual
study environment where the students can
meet to study together and provide peer-to-
peer support.
While at Kiron, students have access to a plethora of
services supporting their academic learning
10
Modularized curriculum composed of
carefully selected MOOCs coming from
different MOOC platforms.

11. 11
How studying online looks like: Kiron Campus

12. 12
Module Card

13. 13
Platform Provider

14. OFFLINE study phase at a university
14

15. University Guidance (aka Transfer)
GOAL:
Inform, empower, motivate, support, and enable students
throughout the application process
FOR WHOM:
Students who have completed the equivalent of high school
and are interested in applying to university
1. The transfer team
schedules a “call” to get more
information about students’
situation and interests
2. Team offers individualized
guidance & assistance to
figure best route to higher
education
3. Team follows up
through additional
calls and emails as
needed
HOW:
15

16. 16
Recognition of prior learning

17. How can Kiron assure the Quality for
MOOC-based curricula?
17

18. Quality
Assurance
text
text
Collaboration & Partnerships
Transparency &
Communication
Continuous
Development
International Standards
18
Kiron’s Quality Assurance approach

19. Next step: implementation of cyclical external QA
→ Certification of Kiron Study Tracks by Accreditation Agency
19
ESG 2015
by
ENQA
1. Policy for
Quality
Assurance 2. Design and
Approval of
Programmes
3. Student-
centered
Learning, Teach-
ing & Assessment
4. Admission,
Progression,
Recognition &
Certification
5. Teaching
Staff6. Learning
Resources
and
Student Support
7. Information
Management
8. Public
Information
9. On-going
monitoring &
periodic review of
programmes
10. Cyclical
external
Quality
Assurance
International Standards
Kiron Quality Policy Clear processes for
“Design and
Maintenance of
Kiron Study Tracks”
Kiron Core Curricula
highly student centered
plus extra support for
student learning process
(Kiron DA Tutorials)
Kiron Navigator, open
admission, onboarding
process, Student
Handbook and Transfer
process
Quality assurance of
MOOC teaching, plus DA
Tutorials produced by
KironFree course access & additional
learning resources
Evaluation by
partner institutions
and students
Information via Kiron
Navigator, Kiron
Campus, Student
Handbook and website
Regular feedback
and review-cycles
Study Track certified
accreditation by 2019

20. Transparency & Communication
20

21. Module catalogues
shared with partner
universities
Learning
Agreement (LA)
Students satisfy
university entrance
qualification and apply
to partner university
Comparison of
Kiron modules with
partner university’s
modules
Partner university
recognises Kiron
modules
(as agreed in LA)
1 2 3 4 5 6
Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU)
Collaboration & Partnerships
21

22. 22
Continuous Development

23. 23
 Presents Kiron’s principles and
processes for curriculum
development and partnership
with higher education
institutions
https://kiron.ngo/qualityhandbook
Quality Handbook Curriculum

24. Partnering with other organizations
providing connected learning in crisis
24

25. 25
Connected Learning in Crisis Consortium
Objectives are to:
• Coordinate efforts and collaborate on the provision of Higher Education in
contexts of conflict, crisis and displacement through connected learning;
• Develop innovative and good practice, quality standards and sustainable
and potentially scalable solutions;
• Develop, share and disseminate scientific evidence and M&E models
respectful of humanitarian principles;
• Raise awareness and advocate for connected learning in higher education
in contexts of conflict, crisis and displacement; and
• Develop and share innovative pedagogical approaches to delivering
technology-supported connected learning.

26. 26
CLCC’s Standing Committees, i.e. on Accreditation
Current fields of action include:
• Map digital student data depositories (national,
regional, global), relevant IT building blocks, data
protection requirements and possible
constraints for refugee contexts
• Investigate how members process academic
credits within their institutions
• Share best practices on digital portfolio
development and documentation of prior
learning and credentials
• Map digital student portfolios (university-
specific) and evaluate their potential to support
employability Quality Guidelines Playbook, 2018

27. 27
Thank you
EADTU Peer Learning Activity - Virtual Mobility, Maastricht – December 12, 2018
Renata Suter, Kiron Open Higher Education
renata.suter@kiron.ngo
@suter_renata