University of Leicester sets up pilot scheme to support students escaping war, disasters and persecution

Medical students affected by war, natural disasters and persecution are now able to continue their education in safety as part of a University of Leicester pilot scheme.

The Displaced Medical Student Initiative has been set up to offer hope and opportunity to medical scholars in any global territory whose education has been disrupted, and enables them to complete their studies and still gain a qualification from their home institution, with the University of Leicester hosting them as visiting students.

The first to benefit from the scheme are two medical students from war-torn Gaza, where all the universities in the region have been partly or fully destroyed. They are now continuing their studies and clinical training in Leicester, thanks to the initiative.

While the students, who wish to remain anonymous, are thankful for the chance to continue to study in safety, both are determined to return to their homeland and help those suffering from the escalating humanitarian crisis.

‘Mariam’ who is from the Al-Azhar University of Gaza, said: “This opportunity came at a time when hope was fading, and it’s given me the strength to keep going and to believe in my future again.

“I have a lot of mixed feelings, but the most important ones are that I am grateful and happy to seize an opportunity like this at the University of Leicester. I was out of my studies for almost a whole year and multiple attempts to find a place around the world to continue my education all proved unsuccessful, so I felt that it was meant to be. On the other hand, I carry a sense of guilt for being here while my colleagues are still facing challenges without similar opportunities.”

“Here at Leicester, my fellow students are incredibly welcoming and friendly. They’ve been supportive, making it easy to connect, communicate and collaborate. The entire teaching staff has also been approachable and helpful.”

‘Layla’ meanwhile, who is from the Islamic University of Gaza, said: “Gaza is entirely unsafe, entirely destroyed, or burned, including my home university, which has been bombed many times since the beginning of this genocide as well as being bombed in previous wars.”

“I can’t imagine, after studying years of medicine, that I won’t be able to help my own people. Despite nothing being clear, I’m counting days to go back to rebuild my Gaza, practice medicine there, give a hand to the most brave, innocent people, and live there until death. I don’t want to be a silent observer, I want to give a hand or even both hands to those who are suffering.”

Both students reserved praise for Professor Shameq Sayeed, from the University’s Medical School, for his efforts to get the Displaced Medical Student Initiative off the ground.

Layla said: “It’s uplifting and inspiring to see this initiative taking place in this inhumane world.”

“There are no words to express how thankful I am to Professor Sayeed for his hard work launching this scheme and bringing it into light, aiming to help students displaced through conflicts and natural disasters, as well as thanks to all the supporters who assisted alongside. This scheme serves as evidence against all those who assume ‘they can do nothing for Gaza’; if you know your role as a human, you’ll help according to your own potential.”

Professor Sayeed said: “I have travelled with other clinicians regularly to Gaza and the West Bank to work with colleagues there in medical education and healthcare in both settings.”

“With the destruction of universities and healthcare infrastructure in Gaza and other areas of conflict, our medical school was keen to work towards continuation of study for those students whose studies had been disrupted, as well as continuity of the home institutions. It is of course these students, who are soon to be clinicians, and their institutions, that will play a leading role in redevelopment after the current devastation.”

“We hope this model – which is also being offered by medical schools in South Africa, Norway, Pakistan, Turkey amongst others – can also be adopted by other medical schools across the UK, as well as in supporting students from other disciplines both in our and other institutions.”

“As our government rightly supported Ukrainian students and others escaping conflict to resettle in the UK, we are hopeful that they will be supportive of other students similarly displaced through conflict or natural disaster.”

“I am grateful to our Medical School Executive, and our Head of School, Professor Simon Gay, for the invaluable scrutiny and advice they have provided in their support of this initiative, and likewise to our Head of College, Professor Tom Robinson, and the University for its support.”

Philip Horspool, Director of the University’s Centre for International Training and Education, said: “Hopefully, once the conflict is over, they will be in a position to return to their country to help rebuild the medical facilities and save lives, which, after all, is what medical practitioners want to do.”

“The scheme is fully in line with the University of Leicester’s status as a leading University of Sanctuary and complements other opportunities for displaced persons to study at Leicester.”

Find out more about the University of Sanctuary.

The University is waiving tuition fees and a fund has been established to support students and ensure the sustainability of this initiative. Single or regular gifts can be made via the University’s Giving page, by selecting ‘Displaced Students Initiative’ in the drop-down menu.