During the 2015/2016 winter semester a total of 221 Syrian scholarship holders took up their studies at a German higher education institution. “Leadership for Syria” is a DAAD programme funded by the German Federal Foreign Office which, in addition to the subject-specific studies, offers a two-semester complementary course for master and PhD students for getting better acquainted with the social-political structures of democratic legal systems. This further training, carried out by the University of Konstanz through e-learning and attendance phases, provides the students with professional competencies which shall enable them to contribute to the rebuilding of Syria in the future.

Within the scope of the conference “Flucht und Studium – eine Bilanz” (or Refuge and studies – taking stock), the DAAD invited project managers from German higher education institutions concerned with the integration of refugees to Bonn. The meeting did not only report positive news with regard to the work and performance of universities, especially the prompt implementation of DAAD programmes aimed at facilitating quick integration and support. Moreover, it gave an overview of all the measures and projects started by DAAD and provided the room for networking and exchange in view of future cooperation. The DAAD, with the support from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, has started in 2015 a comprehensive programme to facilitate the integration of refugees in the German higher education system.

Leadership for Syria