For many years, the University of Reading has hosted fellows through the Council for At-Risk Academics' (Cara) core fellowship programme, which helps academics in danger escape to a safe place where they can continue their work.
Since 2018, the University has been active supporter of Cara, making an annual donation of £3,000 to support the delivery of its important work. We also make up to £20,000 available each year for one student or postdoctoral scholar at our institution, making a significant contribution to their fees, research expenses and living costs.
Academic English language support
Since 2016, the International Study and Language Institute (ISLI) has supported the Cara Syria Programme with a key area of its work, English for Academic Purposes (EAP). English language, as the common language of the international academic and scientific communities, is vital to supporting the continued academic engagement and contribution of Syrian colleagues in exile in Turkey.
The programme also supports access to literature and publication in international peer-reviewed journals.
ISLI staff have regularly led the programme’s three- to four-day EAP workshops in Istanbul since 2017, which are complemented by weekly one-to-one online tutoring sessions delivered by volunteer EAP teachers from across the UK higher education sector and beyond, including a number from the University of Reading. ISLI is a founder member of the Syria Programme EAP Steering Group, whose role is to coordinate and develop the programme’s various components of English for Academic Purposes support.
The University also supported two Research Incubation Visits in 2019, which were hosted and co-funded by the School of Agriculture, Policy and Development.
