The Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) launches post-doctoral lecturing positions for doctors with refugee status.

Due to the wave of refugees from the Near and Middle East (mainly Iraq and Syria), all European institutions, particularly universities, must try and provide a welcome worthy of the ethical values European Union countries claim to uphold.

The Universityé Libre de Bruxelles, which has a long tradition of commitment and mobilisation, wants to take action in its own specialist areas: research and education.

Collections of books, toys and musical instruments were organised during September with the assistance of the university presses of Brussels, general stores and the support of volunteers.

The Université Libre de Bruxelles wants to do more and will open up ten extendable one-year post-doctoral positions that will allow researchers and lecturers with refugee status to continue their research in Brussels, in a safe environment surrounded by their peers.

These positions will be named after Khaled al’As-ad, an 82-year-old archaeologist decapitated by ISIS for taking part in international scientific symposiums and working with foreign colleagues. His memory is a tragic but symbolic reminder of the value of international academic solidarity.

The offers will be made in collaboration with the “Scholars at Risk” association, an international university-level platform for the defence and promotion of human rights, and more particularly the values of freedom of education.