Understanding and Tackling the Migration Challenge: The Role of Research

Suad Al DarraSyrian Researcher, Fujitsu Ireland

4 February 2016, Brussels

Background- April, 1986: Born in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

- Lived there for 17 years

- 2003: Graduated from High School

- 2003: Left Saudi Arabia

- 2003: Studied IT & Software Engineering in Damascus University

- 2008: Worked in several companies

- March 2011: The Syrian Revolution

- March 2012: Took First Aid Courses to volunteer in Red Cross

- December 2012 : Got married and left Syria

Background

- December 2012: Moved to Cairo, Egypt

- January 2013: Martyrdom of my Father-in-law

- July 2013: Egyptian Military taking over government

- July 2013: Syrians banned from entering Egypt

- September 2013: Job offer from Fujitsu (Euraxess)

- December 2013: Left Egypt

Background

- January 2014: Moved alone to Galway, Ireland

- Started working with Fujitsu

- April 2014: Reunited with my husband

- Got more involved in Data Analytics Research and Applications

- Participated in The Extended Semantic Web Conference (Slovenia)

& won Linked Data Mining Challenge.

- Started Women Techmakers Group and volunteered

in several Tech groups

Background

EuraxessHosting Agreement

- Better than work permit

- Faster process

- Long Residency VISA after 2 years instead of 5

- Family reunion

Science4Refugees:

- Refugees need easier steps, less complicated visa process and an

understanding environment when applying for jobs.

- “Refugees To Be” could benefit from it instead of risking their lives

and immigrate illegally

Refugees With Scientific Background Challenges“There’s a big gap between the needs of Syrians desperate to escape their country’s violence and what’s on offer around the world”

Shatha Alkhalil, a doctoral student at Technische Universität Ilmenau in Germany.

- Their primary motivation for seeking to study abroad is survival, not academic advancement

- Not prepared for academic writings and scholarship proposals

- Grades doesn’t reflect their real abilities

- Syrian Universities are usually not recognized in EU

- VISA application is a nightmare

Pay a Smuggler or Seek a Scholarship? By Riham Kusahttp://www.al-fanarmedia.org/2015/09/pay-a-smuggler-or-seek-a-scholarship/

Current Work & Research - Sharing job opportunities and scholarships with Syrian colleagues and

friends- Connecting Syrian Applicants with European Researchers to proofread

their scholarship proposals

Current Work & Research Analyzing Social Networks to find useful insights that can help providing more support and aid for refugees

*Lucify: The flow towards Europe http://www.lucify.com/the-flow-towards-europe/

Current Work & Research - “How my Degree in Engineering Saved my life”

- “Go Home” Refugee Crisis from a Syrian / EU perspective

Lettersfromgalway.wordpress.com

@suadarra

*Lucify: The flow towards Europe http://www.lucify.com/the-flow-towards-europe/

“If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it” - Dr. Edwards Deming

Future Research Needs

Future Research Needs