U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees meets Hiroshima mayor, requests that Hiroshima City University accept refugee students
Nov. 27, 2016
by Masanori Wada, Staff Writer
Filipo Grandi, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, met with Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui at Hiroshima City Hall on November 26. Representing the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Mr. Grandi made a request to Mr. Matsui, asking that refugee students be accepted at Hiroshima City University. If the university concludes an agreement with the UNHCR, it would be the first public university in Japan to introduce the special program whereby refugee students are exempt from paying admission or tuition fees.
The Refugee Higher Education Program was launched by the UNHCR in 2007. Under this program, a university accepts one or two refugees living in Japan per year as students without charging them enrollment fees or tuition. Currently, six private universities have implemented the program, including Aoyama Gakuin University, Meiji University, and Kwansei Gakuin University. All of these schools are either in the Tokyo area or near Osaka. No university in or around Hiroshima Prefecture has yet to become part of the program.
Mr. Grandi explained the purpose of the program and sought Mr. Matsui’s support. Mr. Grandi said that if the university takes part, it would provide a good opportunity for people to consider the issue of refugees. Mr. Matsui responded that he will convey this information to the president of the university and give positive consideration to implementing the program.
(Originally published on November 27, 2016)
Filipo Grandi, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, met with Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui at Hiroshima City Hall on November 26. Representing the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Mr. Grandi made a request to Mr. Matsui, asking that refugee students be accepted at Hiroshima City University. If the university concludes an agreement with the UNHCR, it would be the first public university in Japan to introduce the special program whereby refugee students are exempt from paying admission or tuition fees.
The Refugee Higher Education Program was launched by the UNHCR in 2007. Under this program, a university accepts one or two refugees living in Japan per year as students without charging them enrollment fees or tuition. Currently, six private universities have implemented the program, including Aoyama Gakuin University, Meiji University, and Kwansei Gakuin University. All of these schools are either in the Tokyo area or near Osaka. No university in or around Hiroshima Prefecture has yet to become part of the program.
Mr. Grandi explained the purpose of the program and sought Mr. Matsui’s support. Mr. Grandi said that if the university takes part, it would provide a good opportunity for people to consider the issue of refugees. Mr. Matsui responded that he will convey this information to the president of the university and give positive consideration to implementing the program.
(Originally published on November 27, 2016)
