Global Platform created by Jorge Sampaio has already brought Syrian students to UAlg

Thanks to the Global Platform for Assistance to Syrian Students, founded by Jorge Sampaio, three Syrian students have been hosted at the University of Algarve (UAlg) since 2014. Alexandra Teodósio, vice-rector for Research and Internationalization at UAlg, told the Sul Informação that the reception of these students special it is “a pride for the institution”.

"We started to collaborate with the Refugee Support Platform and, later, with the Global Platform for Assistance to Syrian Students, chaired by the former President of the Republic Jorge Sampaio, who is leaving us today," added the vice-rector.

The reception of these young Syrians became an “advantage in discovering different cultures and customs, not only for these foreign students, but also for our national students”, he explained.

"They interact in a global universe with the rest of the university," he exclaimed.

"It is necessary to include these young people in our society and, with other students, provide them with learning skills for life in other areas that are not just those in which they are studying at university."

The three young Syrians enrolled in the Pharmaceutical Sciences course at the University of Algarve, as «they were already studying in this area». Two still attend the course, the third, Mohammed Tarek Said, it's already over.

«It is our duty to teach our students to show solidarity with other students, especially in a global world like the one we live in today».

In 2015 the Sul Informação Spoke to Mohamed Tarek Said, one of the young people who, under the platform created by Jorge Sampaio, came to Portugal in order to continue his studies.

In the future, the University of Algarve intends to continue «not only to receive students through the Global Platform for Assistance to Syrian Students, but also to join the emergency program of scholarships and academic opportunities for young Afghan women, announced in August by Jorge Sampaio », concludes Alexandra Teodósio, vice-rector for Research and Internationalization at UAlg.

Jorge Sampaio he died today at the age of 81, at the Hospital de Santa Cruz, in Carnaxide, where he was hospitalized in Intensive Care following breathing difficulties, felt about two weeks ago, when I was on vacation in the Algarve.

The Council of Ministers approved national mourning for the 11th, 12th and 13th of September, that is, from tomorrow until Monday.