MORALE Consortium Meeting and Study Visit University of Oldenburg, Germany, 15 -17 May 2023

Hosted by University of Oldenburg, Germany

The MORALE Consortium Meeting and Study Visit at the University of Oldenburg, took place from 15th to 17th May 2023. The meeting was held from 9:30 am to 17:00 pm and attended by representatives from partner institutions; including BAU, MUBS, LU, DU, AIU, IUST, BAUK, University of Alicante, University of Oldenburg, ARA, University of Bologna (online), and Four Elements

During the meeting, participants from all partner institutions engaged in fruitful discussions on various topics. The event commenced with a presentation on the progress of the MORALE project over the past few years, with researchers made on areas like sustainability, volunteering, cooperation, teaching, transfer activities, governance, online teaching, and international programs.

A prominent focus of the presentations was on addressing the increased number of refugees in Germany, particularly after the Ukraine Crisis. The attendees shared their efforts in supporting refugees and migrants, helping them adapt to everyday life, integrate into the culture and society, and explore opportunities for higher education through degree programs.

Each partner institution made a presentation, outlining their main goals and contributions to the project:

• Prof. Dr. Sobhi Abou Chahine provided an overview of the MORALE project and its primary objectives.
• Prof. Karsten Speck emphasized sustainability, volunteering, cooperation, and related aspects.
• Ms. Katja discussed the program's funding through the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research DAAD.
• Tim Zentner highlighted online teaching and International Programs, including internships, program duration, credit requirements, and admission criteria.
• The COAST team focused on research, teaching, transfer activities, and governance.
• Feilka Hawijah shared insights into the German-Syrian Society's efforts in supporting refugees and migrants.
• Hilger Konig and Omar Kaissi discussed their focus on enhancing integration into society.
• Dr. Julia Michaelis presented new teaching concepts, emphasizing cooperative, multidisciplinary, and competence-oriented approaches.
• Prof. Dr. Sebastian Lehnhoff discussed OFFIS's main focus on energy systems, robotics, sustainability, and the utilization of AI, as well as their collaborations with NGOs.

Subsequently, the participants visited the Youth Migration Services. The visit centered around the organization's long-term, individual support for young migrants in their educational and professional journeys. Discussions covered social-cultural projects, mental and emotional health education, and the importance of program sustainability.

Additionally, Franz Josef Franke presented Diakonia's migration advice services in Oldenburg. The services aimed to support activities and collaboration with the evangelical church community while addressing housing assistance and equal opportunities.

The final session revolved around discussing the project's results and achievements, including the project team, enhanced courses, their implementation, and the development and execution of lifelong learning (LLL) courses. The participants also evaluated outcomes, impact, and their overall experience with the project.