Keyano to welcome first refugee student

Keyano College will welcome its first refugee student from Lebanon in August through the 

World University Service of Canada’s (WUSC) Student Refugee Program (SRP). 

The refugee program allows students from countries such as Kenya, Syria and Jordan to continue their education in safe and supportive environments across Canada. 

Over 44 years, the program has helped more than 2,000 refugee students settle in Canada. 

Keyano College didn’t release the student’s name but said they will have a support network of a local committee to help the student feel welcomed in Fort McMurray. Other initiatives are in place to support the student through their 12-month sponsorship at Keyano. 

“Recognizing the role of higher education institutions in fostering inclusion, sustainable development, and social peace, we as a college, find it important to mobilize on this initiative and join over 90 other Canadian institutions in providing young refugees students with the opportunity to continue their education in a safe and supportive environment,” said Dr. Sandra Efu, Dean, School of University Studies, Career Programs & Academic Upgrading at Keyano in a news release. 

WUSC works with more than 100 different post-secondary schools across Canada and coordinates the recruitment of more than 150 high-achieving students in seven different countries of asylum.