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INTEGRATION PROCESS OF SYRIAN MIGRANTS FOLLOWING THE EU-TURKEY
READMISSION AGREEMENT: CASE OF SYRIAN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN İZMİR
Assist. Prof. Dr. Zühal Ünalp Çepel*
Res. Assist. Sinem Abka*
Res. Assist. Tuğcan Durmuşlar*
Abstract
This article aims to analyze the current challenges and integration prospects of Syrian
university students in İzmir. Methodologically it is based on a case study through the questionnaire
results of 22 Syrian students of 2017-2018 academic year in İzmir and 3 interviews conducted in
2018 and 2019 with experts from public institutions. The article evaluates how the EU-Turkey
Readmission Agreement has influenced Turkey’s integration policy over the Syrian migrants. It is
argued that Syrian university students in İzmir are directly influenced from the comprehensive
policies of public institutions and universities. However they still face with educational, socio-
cultural and economic challenges. Generating certain solutions to those challenges can be possible
through solid coordination of the institutions.
Keywords: Syrian migrants, Syrian university students, the European Union, Turkey, İzmir.
AB-TÜRKİYE GERİ KABUL ANLAŞMASI’NIN ARDINDAN SURİYELİ
GÖÇMENLERİN ENTEGRASYON SÜRECİ: İZMİR’DEKİ SURİYELİ ÜNİVERSİTE
ÖĞRENCİLERİ ÖRNEĞİ
Öz
Bu çalışma, İzmir’deki Suriyeli üniversite öğrencilerinin karşılaştığı sorunları ve
entegrasyon beklentilerini analiz etmektedir. Metodolojik olarak araştırma, İzmir üniversitelerinde
2017-2018 akademik yılında kayıtlı bulunan 22 Suriyeli üniversite öğrencisinin anket sonuçları ve
kamu kurumlarında çalışan 3 uzman ile 2018 ve 2019 yıllarında gerçekleştirilen görüşmeler ile
desteklenen bir örnek olay çalışmasına dayanmaktadır. Makale, AB-Türkiye Geri Kabul
Anlaşması’nın Türkiye’nin Suriyeli göçmenlerin entegrasyonu politikasını nasıl etkilediğini
değerlendirmektedir. Makalede İzmir’deki Suriyeli öğrencilerin kamu kurumlarının ve
üniversitelerin uyguladığı politikalardan doğrudan etkilendiği tartışılmaktadır. Ancak öğrenciler
halen eğitim, sosyo-kültürel ve ekonomik alanlarda engellerle karşılaşmaktadır. Söz konusu
engellere yönelik kesin çözümler üretilmesi kamu kurumlarının devamlı koordinasyonu ile mümkün
olabilecektir.
Anahtar Kelimeler: Suriyeli göçmenler, Suriyeli üniversite öğrencileri, Avrupa Birliği,
Türkiye, İzmir.
This article is produced from a paper presented at the International Conference on the Future of European
Union and Turkey-European Union Relations, organized by Usak University Faculty of Economics and Administrative
Sciences, Association of Economic Universities of South and Eastern Europe and the Black Sea Region&European
Union Education, Research and Application Center on 11-13 April 2019, in Usak, Turkey.
*Dokuz Eylul University, Faculty of Business, Department of International Relations. Orcid No: 0000-0002-
2057-5966, zuhal.unalp@deu.edu.tr.
* Dokuz Eylul University, Faculty of Business, Department of International Relations. Orcid No: 0000-0002-
2663-8710, sinem.erbas@deu.edu.tr.
* Dokuz Eylul University, Faculty of Business, Department of International Relations. Orcid No: 0000-0003-
2889-0247, tugcan.durmuslar@deu.edu.tr.
Research Artıcle Pages: 127-149
Received: 15.12.2020 Accepted: 26.01.2021
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1. INTRODUCTION
Turkey has the highest number of Syrian migrants worldwide, hosting almost 4 million
Syrians* under the national regime of temporary protection (“Çavuşoğlu: Geri Kabul”, 2019).
Higher education opportunities are part of the educational services Turkey offers to the Syrian
migrants. According to the data by Council of Higher Education (CoHE), a total of 20.701 Syrian
students had been enrolled in Turkish higher education institutions (HEIs) during the 2017-2018
academic year. * Several funding opportunities have been facilitating the Syrian migrants’ access to
higher education largely consisting of the European Union (EU) funds and the Presidency for Turks
Abroad and Related Communities (Yurtdışı Türkler ve Akraba Topluluklar Başkanlığı-YTB)
scholarships along with civil society initiatives and other contributions. It is suggested in this article
that, following the EU-Turkey Readmission Agreement in 2014, Turkey has begun to evolve into a
final destination rather than a temporary shelter or a transit country for the Syrian migrants. Article
4 of the Agreement obliges Turkey to readmit citizens of third countries that illegally entered the
EU territory following their stay on or transit passage via Turkish soil. * The deal has significantly
reduced illegal human trafficking in the border regions. However, the limited quotas for migrants
provided with a legitimate opportunity to enter Europe have augmented the number of Syrian
migrants in Turkey (Şimşek, 2019).
The burden of hosting a large amount of migrants required Turkey to introduce and develop
migration related policies including the higher education for Syrian migrants. Integration issues
related with Syrian students have been analyzed in the literature from several aspects (Erdoğan,
2014; Aras and Yasun, 2016; Erdoğan and Erdoğan, 2018; Yıldız, 2019). This article contributes to
the rapidly developing literature on Syrian migrants in Turkey by focusing on the Syrian university
students in İzmir which has not been analyzed within the existing literature. It is also aimed to
reveal the challenges and future perspectives of Syrian university students enrolled in HEIs in
İzmir* which are Dokuz Eylül University, Ege University, Katip Çelebi University, İzmir Institute of
Technology and Democracy University.
Methodologically this article is based on a review of the existing studies on Syrian
university students in Turkey; the original data gathered from the responses of 22 Syrian students in
* According to the official statistical data provided by the Turkish Ministry of Interior, Directorate General of
Migration Management, Turkey hosts 3.674.588 Syrians as of October.2019.
* Council of Higher Education, Information Management System, Student Figures Based on Nationality 2017-
2018 Academic Year, https://istatistik.yok.gov.tr/ (Accessed 18.07.2019).
* Council of Higher Education, Information Management System, Student Figures Based on Nationality 2017-
2018 Academic Year, https://istatistik.yok.gov.tr/ (Accessed 18.07.2019).
* 5 out of 9 universities that are located in İzmir have Syrian students enrolled in their programs.
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İzmir who voluntarily filled in the questionnaire and 3 unstructured interviews with public officials.
The questionnaire had been sent to the e-mail addresses of Syrian university students with the
support provided by YTB İzmir Office. There are 105 Syrian students in İzmir (Interviewee 2,
2018). Even though the questionnaire link had been sent to those students for several times in 2018
and 2019, the number of the responding Syrian students could not have been increased. The authors
have also contacted with Directorate General of Migration Management (DGMM) and public
universities in İzmir to reach the other Syrian university students who have not responded the
questionnaire. However the authors are informed that the only public institution which has the
authority to reach foreign students is YTB since it is the main institution providing Türkiye
Scholarships for them. According to the interviewees and experts who deal with Syrian migrants in
Turkey, the socio-cultural factors, introvert and traumatic approaches of the Syrians have resulted
with reluctance to share information on themselves (Interviewee 1, 2019; Interviewee 2, 2018;
Interviewee 3, 2018). The authors have also observed that the answers to the questionnaire started to
repeat each other. Thus, it has become convincing that the qualitative research has achieved the
saturation point. In order to shed light on the policies of public institutions and their perceptions on
Syrian university students, 3 unstructured interviews were held. The authors have had the chance to
interview with those officials in the workshops and meetings on Syrian migrants organized by
universities and DGMM.
It is argued in the article that Turkey’s policies towards Syrian university students have
evolved from emergency efforts to comprehensive policies in addressing the needs of university-
aged migrants aspiring for higher education. The article is based on the assumption that higher
education constitutes a determinant factor that will contribute in the future perspectives of the
Syrian migrants either if they remain in Turkey or return to Syria. The majority of Syrian university
students in Turkey favour staying in the country rather than going back to their country of origin
(Erdoğan and Erdoğan, 2018: 73). Therefore, the article firstly explores the socio-cultural and
economic conditions of Syrian university students studying in İzmir. In addition to that, the research
deciphers the perceptions and expectations of Syrian university students with regard to the higher
education opportunities in Turkey. Finally, the paper analyzes the future integration prospects of
Syrian university students with the Turkish society by taking into consideration the implications of
Turkey’s open door policy and the EU-Turkey Readmission Agreement.
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2. THE EU’S POLICY FOR THE SYRIAN CRISIS AND THE EU-TURKEY
READMISSION AGREEMENT
The relations between the EU and Syria date back to the “Cooperation Agreement” of 1977
which led the parties to sign the Association Agreement.* However it has not been ratified yet. Syria
takes place within the group of countries in the EU’s European Neighbourhood Policy that was
initiated in 2004 with the aim of establishing cooperation between the EU and participating states to
achieve political and economic stability in the Union’s vicinity. The EU brought its cooperation
with the Syrian government to a halt in 2011 due to the civil war and human rights violations in the
country. In spite of the institutional ties between Syria and the Union, Brussels has approached the
Syrian crisis cautiously since 2011. The EU applied sanctions* against the Syrian government as a
reaction to the human rights violations. European Investment Bank has ended providing loans by
November 2011. Following the suspension of relations with Syria, the Union’s sanctions on Syria
targeted regime-loyal elites and legal figures. Besides, the EU applied sanctions on Syrian oil
imports between 2011 and 2013. However, these initiatives could neither prevent nor end the civil
war between the regime forces and national opposition groups (European Commission, 2018;
Seeberg, 2015: 26). Furthermore, the EU’s lack of engagement with the Syrian regime is considered
as a factor that has diminished the bloc’s capacity to end the humanitarian crisis (Turkmani and
Haid, 2016: 3).
The EU’s policy towards the Syrian crisis is based on the prioritization of the refugee inflow
as the main security threat. Since the early stage of the Syrian conflict, the EU has provided
approximately a total of €10 billion in its humanitarian support attempt. These funds have been
utilized both within Syria and in the neighbouring countries as well with an aim of supporting
displaced Syrian civilians’ humanitarian needs including education. Through the European
Neighbourhood Instrument, the Union supported Syrians financially in civil society development.
The EU Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis has been transferring non-
humanitarian aid to Syria’s neighbouring countries with a total budget of €1.5 billion since 2015.
* Council of the European Union, Council Decision on the signing, on behalf of the European Community, and
provisional application of certain provisions of the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between
the European Community and its Member States and the Syrian Arab Republic. 17.08.2009,
http://register.consilium.europa.eu/doc/srv?l=EN&t=PDF&gc=true&sc=false&f=ST+9921+2009+INIT (Accessed
27.12.2019).
* For a complete list of EU restrictive measures in force please refer to; European Commission, European Union
Restrictive measures (sanctions) in force, (Regulations based on Article 215 TFEU and Decisions adopted in the
framework of the Common Foreign and Security Policy), 7.7.2016,
http://eeas.europa.eu/archives/docs/cfsp/sanctions/docs/measures_en.pdf (Accessed 27.12.2019).
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Turkey is one of the contributing countries to the Fund with a 1.7% share in total (European
Commission, 2018).
The Agreement between the EU and Turkey on the Readmission of Persons Residing without
Authorisation7, known as Readmission Agreement, constitutes the legal framework between the two
parties on mutual cooperation in migration related issues. As put forward in the preamble of the
legal text, the agreement aims at regulating the migratory movements between Turkish soil and the
EU territory. The agreement has been first offered by the Union in 2003 and negotiated between the
parties since then. A final agreement has been signed on 16 December 2013 and put into force on 1
October 2014. However, in line with Article 24(3) of the Agreement, the actual implementation of
the provisions on third country nationals and stateless people has been decided to begin by 1 June
2016 (Batır, 2017: 596-7). Following the EU-Turkey Deal on 18 March 2016, to give an end to the
illegal migratory movements from Turkish soil to the EU, irregular arrivals lowered substantially
with a decrease of 97% when compared with the earlier period. Within the scope of the Deal, the
EU has provided Turkey with a financial support of €4.2 billion, out of the €6 billion package, in
support of projects towards Syrians under temporary protection (European Commission, March
2019: 2). In return for Turkey’s readmission task, the EU member states accept migrants seeking
refuge based on certain conditions (“AB Mülteci Zirvesi”, 2016). Following the Deal, the EU
member states and Turkey have faced sharp criticism from the international community for
avoiding their responsibilities to protect refugees and transferring their obligations (Rygiel, Baban
and Ilcan, 2016: 163). In July 2019, Turkey suspended the Readmission Agreement with the EU
after the decision on the EU sanctions over Turkey with the reason of gas drilling operations in the
Mediterranean Sea (“Turkey Suspends”, 2019). The current development starts a new process in
Turkey’s policies for Syrian migrants.
3. TURKEY’S STRATEGIES FOR SYRIAN MIGRANTS
It is emphasized in the literature that Turkey addresses the immense challenge of
humanitarian crisis in a way that goes far beyond hospitality (Kirişçi, 2014). Since 2011, Turkey
has followed an open door policy for the Syrian migrants but has not provided a refugee status for
them. The reason behind this is the geographic limitation of Turkey on 1951 Geneva Convention
and 1967 The Protocol on the Legal Status of Refugees. In accordance with these two international
legal documents, the migrants except the ones coming from the European continent cannot seek
official refugee status from the state authorities.
7 Agreement Between the European Union and the Republic of Turkey on the Readmission of Persons Residing
without Authorisation, Official Journal of the European Union, L 134/3, 7.5.2014,
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX3A22014A0507280129 (Accessed 22.9.2019).
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While following an open door policy for the Syrian migrants, Turkey has also reformed its
asylum policy in parallel with the EU legislation to ensure the responsibilities originating from the
EU-Turkey Readmission Agreement. Those reforms have not only identified more specific
provisions for the irregular migrants in Turkey but also have been considered as the important
reforms for the EU accession. In order to harmonize national policies with the EU acquis, Law on
Foreigners and International Protection* came into force in 2013. The same year Turkey and the EU
bilaterally signed the Readmission Agreement particularly for the management of irregular migrant
flows to the EU member countries. In 2013, DGMM was established under the authority of Turkish
Ministry of Interior within the scope of Law on Foreigners and International Protection. Currently
this public institution has aimed at cooperation with foreign students, academics, media, civil
society organizations and other public institutions to minimize the challenges on integration.
Turkey has been implementing comprehensive migration policies since 2014. The first
important change has been the legal arrangement which granted Syrian migrants temporary
protection status (Erdoğan, 2015: 15). The number of Syrians with temporary protection status is
3.674.588 in October 2019. Table 1 shows that majority of the Syrian people in Turkey with
temporary protection status live in İstanbul. The other cities where Syrians live at most are
Gaziantep, Hatay, Şanlıurfa, Adana, Mersin, Bursa, İzmir, Kilis and Konya respectively. 146.806
Syrians live in İzmir, and this number corresponds to 3.40% of the total population of the city
(goc.gov.tr, October 2019; multeciler.org.tr, October 2019).
Table 1: Demographic Indicators of Syrians with Temporary Protection Status
CITY
POPULATION
COMPARISON
TO CITY
POPULATION
İstanbul
549.477
3.65%
Gaziantep
451.461
22.26%
Hatay
440.336
27.35%
Şanlıurfa
428.684
21.06%
Adana
239.258
10.78%
Mersin
204.313
11.26%
Bursa
177.193
5.92%
İzmir
146.806
3.40%
* The legal text of the Law on Foreigners and International Protection, 11.4.2013. Available at:
https://www.mevzuat.gov.tr/MevzuatMetin/1.5.6458.pdf (Accessed 18.10.2019).
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Kilis
116.638
81.83%
Konya
109.488
4.96%
Source: Turkish Ministry of Interior, Directorate General of Migration Management, October 2019.
Turkey’s efforts to ensure the integration of Syrians under temporary protection into the
society includes providing them with working permits issued in The Regulation on Provision of
Work Permits for People under Temporary Protection, introduced in January 2016. The regulation
requires various eligibility criteria and administrative procedures. Some of them are directly related
with the applicant such as having 6 months of legal residence in Turkey and making an application
to the Ministry of Labour from the province where the temporary identity card was issued. Whereas
other criteria are concerned with the employers such as applying a quota for employing Syrians and
prohibiting them from certain job categories due to the relevant national legislation (Siviş and
Yıldız, 2019: 2).
Syrians can also be granted with Turkish citizenship. According to the data provided by
Mülteciler Association, 92.280 Syrian people acquired Turkish citizenship until August 2019.
According to the same source, the average age of the Syrian people in Turkey is 22.58 (Mülteciler
Association, October 2019). The population of Syrian men in Turkey is much higher than the
Syrian women as can be seen in Table 2. And the largest deviation (93.173 people) is between the
ages of 19 and 24. It means that there are more male students than female students in the Turkish
HEIs (goc.gov.tr, October 2019).
Table 2: Gender Distributions of Syrians with Temporary Protection in Turkey
AGE
MALE
FEMALE
TOTAL
TOTAL
1.991.638
1.682.950
3.674.588
0-4
291.323
272.160
563.483
5-9
255.107
240.254
495.361
10-14
200.039
185.169
385.208
15-18
151.756
123.725
275.481
19-24
323.678
230.505
554.183
25-29
206.662
146.651
353.313
30-34
169.595
124.375
293.970
35-39
119.754
94.722
214.476
40-44
78.947
70.024
148.971
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45-49
58.549
55.908
114.457
50-54
47.314
45.434
92.748
55-59
32.914
33.326
66.240
60-64
22.991
23.767
46.758
65-69
15.060
15.771
30.831
70-74
8.474
9.148
17.622
Source: Turkish Ministry of Interior, Directorate General of Migration Management, October 2019.
The future prospects of foreign population in Turkey have been shaped through the
Adaptation Strategy Document and National Action Plan prepared by DGMM for the 2018-2023
term (DGMM, 2018). This new initiative represents a goal-oriented perspective for all of the public
institutions in Turkey in order to increase the adaptation of foreigners to the Turkish society through
the coordinated actions. This kind of initiatives will contribute to meet the educational, socio-
cultural and economic needs of Syrian population and Syrian university students in Turkey. It is
announced by DGMM that the focus of the public institutions and academia had been the social
integration of Syrians during 2012-2018 term; however the adaptation processes of Syrians is now
on the agenda of those institutions.* In that sense, the public institutions in Turkey have been
currently stressing on a change of approach for the Syrians, a transition from integration to
adaptation in order to overcome the challenges.
4. SYRIAN STUDENTS IN HEIs: GENERAL OVERVIEW ON TURKEY
Following the eruption of the Syrian crisis in 2011, Turkey as one of the most welcoming
countries accepted large number of irregular Syrian migrants and fulfilled their boarding and
lodging needs in the first stage. An inclusive integration approach has been followed particularly in
education since it constitutes one of the most important human rights. Accordingly CoHE initiated
an immediate action for seven HEIs to admit Syrian students without legal documentation
demonstrating their academic affiliation. For the academic year 2012-2013, Gaziantep University,
Karabük University and Mersin University are among the universities that have registered
applicant Syrian migrants as special students (Yıldız, 2019a: 81). This measure aimed at ensuring
their social adaptation but not promising a degree at the end of their studies.
In 2013, a new article to the Regulation on Principles of Transfer between Associate and
Undergraduate Degree Programs of Higher Education Institutions, Double Major, Minor, and
* The legal text of the Law on Foreigners and International Protection, 11.4.2013. Available at:
https://www.mevzuat.gov.tr/MevzuatMetin/1.5.6458.pdf (Accessed 18.10.2019).
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Credit Transfers Between Institutions was added by CoHE for foreign students. Through the new
article, the foreign students who cannot maintain their studentship in their countries for special
reasons such as violent acts and humanitarian crisis can be transferred to the degree programs at
the HEIs in Turkey (CoHE, 2013). With this regulation, the students holding special status were
provided the right to apply all Turkish HEIs in addition to those that are located in the border
region as of the academic year 2014-2015.* After this opportunity was given to the Syrian
students, the number of applications has accelerated and reached to 1.986 in Gaziantep University,
1.217 in İstanbul University, 1.178 in Karabük University and 1.127 in Mersin University. These
universities are the top four in the list of universities in terms of the population of Syrian students.
During the 2017-2018 academic year when the questionnaire of this research had been
disseminated to the Syrian students in İzmir, a total of 7.560.371 students were enrolled in Turkish
HEIs including 20.701 Syrians. Among them the Syrian male students constitute the majority with
a number of 12.980 while there are only 7.721 Syrian female students. Demographic attributes of
Syrian students in Turkey indicate that there are 554.183 Syrians between the ages of 19 and 24,
however only 4% of those are enrolled in HEIs. * Accordingly, Turkey has been collaborating with
international institutions in order to encourage more Syrian participation in higher education by
providing tuition support and scholarship. The inclusive approach of Turkey is believed to be
crucial for skill and knowledge acquisition of Syrians, for creation of a developed, prosperous and
socially inclusive society as well as ensuring a successful integration process. Therefore the most
important actors in this process are regarded as the HEIs.
Türkiye Scholarships provide various opportunities for Syrian students in public
universities. Until 2019, more than 5.000 Syrian students’ tuition fees are paid by the program.
Moreover almost 16.000 Syrian students have been funded by YTB between 2012 and 2019
(Yıldız, 2019a: 81). YTB and Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative (DAFI)
Programs via the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Higher
and Further Education Opportunities and Perspectives for Syrians (HOPES) action of the EU and
SPARK Turkey are the other scholarship programs for the Syrian students (Hohberger, 2017: 5;
Yıldız, 2019a: 88).
In Turkey, international students including the Syrian applicants should meet the specific
criteria of the institution that they prefer to study. Turkish universities are free to determine their
*Council of Higher Education decision dated 18/06/2014, 09/07/2014, 06/06/2018, https://www.yok.gov.tr/ogrenci/ek-
madde-2-uyarinca-misir-ve-suriyeden-yapilabilecek-yatay-gecis-islemlerine-iliskin-esaslar (Accessed 26.12.2019)
* Council of Higher Education, Information Management System, Student Figures Based on Nationality 2017-2018
Academic Year, https://istatistik.yok.gov.tr/ (Accessed 18.07.2019).
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own admission criteria for those applicants.12 Universities have applied the criteria of Foreign
Student Exam (Yabancı Öğrenci Sınavı-YÖS) or international tests such as Scholastic Aptitude
Test (SAT), National College Admission Examination (ACT) and Medical College Admission
Test (MCAT) as a substitute for YÖS (Yıldız, 2019b: 6). On the other hand, international students
may need to fulfil the specific language proficiency criteria of the institution that they apply to. For
instance, it is required to have B2 level certificate for Turkish undergraduate programs in İstanbul
University. Whereas, Yaşar University requires the Syrian candidates to hold an internationally
recognized English language certificate such as Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL) and
English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) or pass the English language test offered by
Yaşar University (Yıldız, 2019a: 80). The social and educational integration of Syrian students in
Turkey demonstrates differentiated characteristics from city to city on which needs to be shed
light. From this viewpoint, the section below focuses on the distinctive characteristics of İzmir
case.
5. SYRIAN STUDENTS IN HEIs: İZMİR CASE
As the third largest city in Turkey, İzmir is located on the western coast of the country
away from the Syrian border. However, the city functions as a transit gate to Greece since Syrian
migrants take the İzmir-Greece transit route as a step on their way to other European countries.
Thus, Syrians prefer the city either for residing and studying or getting prepared for the transit
passage to Europe.
According to the official data provided by the CoHE, the total number of Syrian university
students registered to the HEIs in İzmir during the academic year 2017-2018 has been 105.13 While
104 of those have been studying at public universities, only 1 student has been enrolled in a
foundation university.
Table 3: 2017-2018 Academic Year-Number of Syrian University Students in İzmir
Name of
the HEI
Type
Male
Female
Total
Dokuz
Eylül
University
Public
26
3
29
12 Council of Higher Education “Principles for Admission of International Students”, 2018,
http://www.yok.gov.tr/documents/10279/40914149/2018_Yurtdisindan_ Ogrenci_Kabulune_Iliskin_Esaslar.pdf
(Accessed 26.12.2019)
13 Council of Higher Education, Information Management System, Student Figures Based on Nationality 2017-2018
Academic Year, https://istatistik.yok.gov.tr/ (Accessed 18.07.2019).
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Ege
University
Public
29
17
46
İzmir Katip
Çelebi
University
Public
21
3
24
İzmir
Institute of
Technology
Public
5
0
5
Yaşar
University
Foundation
1
0
1
Total
82
23
105
Source: Data compiled from CoHE Information Management System (2017-2018)
According to the data obtained from both YTB and DGMM in İzmir, approximately 90 of
those students have been funded by Türkiye Scholarships and the rest are either covering their own
expenses or holding other kinds of scholarships provided by international organizations or private
institutions (Interviewee 1, 2019; Interviewee, 2018; Interviewee, 2018).
In order to elaborate on the relatively lower number of Syrian university students registered
to the HEIs in İzmir, the background of their admission process to the HEIs in Turkey would guide
the researchers. Both the regulations of the CoHE and universities in İzmir have been influential on
this situation along with the limited potential for employment opportunities compared with İstanbul
which hosts the largest Syrian population as a city without a geographical proximity with Syria.
Concerning the reasons why İzmir is hosting relatively lower number of Syrian students, it is
observed that there are multiple determinants limiting their motivation to apply to the HEIs in İzmir.
Firstly, Syrian students were only able to apply to the selected Turkish HEIs in the border
regions in the pre-2015 period. Yet, during the post-2015 period they were given the right to apply
to other HEIs all around Turkey. However as can be observed in the numbers provided above there
are still high number of Syrian students enrolled in the same HEIs in the border region. The reason
why they choose these universities might be dependent upon the feeling of a secure environment
where they can meet other Syrian friends and relatives.
Second determinant is directly related with the different regulations each university
determines and implements regarding the admission criteria for international students. Accordingly,
the applicants should meet the criteria of the institution that they apply to. This creates both
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opportunities and difficulties since some universities are more willing to accept international
students whereas others follow stricter policies which are not as flexible as the other universities in
terms of creating a welcoming environment (Interviewee 1, 2019). The differences in the policies
occur due to the reason why some universities accept more documentation demonstrating the score
of international exams such as SAT, ACT or MCAT while others require the candidates to be
successful in the YÖS examination implemented by their own institution (Yıldız, 2019b: 6,
Interviewee 3, 2018).
Apart from the different criteria each HEI pursues, it is observed that all universities accept
limited number of international students including the Syrians. This limit is determined by the
authorities of each university considering the adequacy of departmental facilities. The universities
in İzmir have strict policies in this regard. However, by virtue of the new target to attract more
international students under the Internationalization Strategy of CoHE*, some universities have
broadened the numbers of international students to be accepted for the upcoming years (Interviewee
1, 2019).
Finally, from a critical perspective, İzmir may be considered to have limited employment
opportunities compared with the extensive private sector institutions in İstanbul. In addition, the
number of Syrian population is much higher in İstanbul (560.706. to 143.660) and their socio-
economic profile differs from those who reside in İzmir. It is observed that the reason why Syrians
choose İzmir is mostly because of their intention to use the city as a transit point. The city’s location
connecting Turkey to Europe makes İzmir an attractive hub for the Syrian migrants (Yıldız and
Uzgören, 2016: 201).
5.1. Methodology
In order to reveal and analyze the Syrian university students’ challenges in higher education,
as well as their socio-economic conditions and integration prospects, two methods, a questionnaire
and unstructured interviews have been applied to this research. Besides, running records and
secondary resources have also been included in the article to support the analysis.
The questionnaire aims to obtain general information about the characteristics and the needs
of Syrian students. The main goal of the research has been explained to the target group and
responses from 22 voluntary Syrian students have been collected anonymously. Through the
*Council of Higher Education, Yükseköğretimde Uluslararasılaşma Strateji Belgesi 2018-2022 [Stragey Paper on the
Internationalization of Higher Education 2018-2022], 30 June 2017,
https://www.yok.gov.tr/Documents/AnaSayfa/Yuksekogretimde_Uluslararasilasma_Strateji_Belgesi_2018_2022.pdf,
p.52 (Accessed on 28 October 2019).
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findings of the obtained data from the respondents, educational, socio-cultural and economic
challenges are first described and then analyzed by the authors.
The questionnaire prepared by the authors consists of 30 questions. 5 questions have been
prepared to measure demographic information including gender, age and income level. 15 questions
are multiple choice questions some of which the students are able to choose more than one option.
In 2 questions, 5-level Likert scale method has been used to measure their perception of living in
İzmir and integrating into Turkish society. 6 open-ended questions have been directed to obtain
their own opinions and interpretations. Finally, the questionnaire includes 2 specific questions to
decipher potential gender-based issues.
Due to the legal framework based on Turkish Data Protection Law on the sharing of
personal data, the authors were not allowed to obtain individual contact information of the target
group. A call and the link of the online questionnaire form prepared by the authors have been sent
by YTB İzmir Office to the affiliated Syrian university students for several times in 2018 and 2019.
22 of the Syrian students in İzmir universities have voluntarily participated in and provided the
authors with detailed information on their educational, socio-cultural and economic needs, along
with future perspectives.
The unstructured interviews conducted with an officer in charge of International Students at
the International Relations Office of Dokuz Eylül University (Interviewee-1) as well as other
officials from YTB İzmir Office (Interviewee-2), and an academic specialist from CoHE
(Interviewee-3) have provided information supportive to the findings of the research. The names of
the interviewees are not shared due to the unstructured nature of the interviews and the reason why
their consent has not been asked for. The interviews which were held in 2018 and 2019, consisted
of the general questions regarding the management of Syrian students’ integration into higher
education, the regulations that are followed by the HEIs, the challenges the HEIs have to struggle
with and finally the socio-cultural tendencies of Syrian university students in terms of responding to
the integration policies of Turkey. Accordingly it is observed that Syrian students have a lack of
interest in sharing their life trajectories either with researchers or stakeholders. In a similar vein, all
the interviewees have mentioned that Syrian migrant students are not willing to participate in
cultural and educational network meetings. This can easily be associated with their traumatic
experiences of the civil war and migration.
Finally running records and secondary resources have been referenced in the research to
provide a historical background, to enlighten on the life trajectories of Syrians and to strengthen the
arguments presented by the authors. Running records comprise of the official statistical reports
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published by state authorities and international organizations such as the EU, CoHE, DGMM and
YTB whereas the secondary resources refer to the existing literature on the Syrian migrants.
Besides, attendances to national and international workshops and meetings with the state authorities
and representatives from NGOs are complementary parts of the research phase of this article. The
workshops which the authors have participated in include the Workshop on Integration of Refugees
into Higher Education: Comparative Country Cases which was organized by Yaşar University
UNESCO Chair on International Migration on 5 December 2018 at Yaşar University; the 3rd
Adaptation Meeting organized by DGMM on 21 December 2018, in İzmir; and the International
Students and Academics Social Adaptation Meeting organized by DGMM on 23 December 2019, in
İzmir. These workshops and meetings have provided the authors with a convenient environment to
obtain information regarding the latest discussions on the integration of Syrian students in Turkey
and to listen to the first-hand narratives from the invited Syrian students which are crucial for
gathering supportive information to the results of the questionnaire and the interviews.
5.2. Findings of the Questionnaire
Demographic features
According to the data provided by the Turkish Ministry of Interior, the number of Syrian
male students residing in Turkey is higher than the female students. Accordingly, the demographic
features of the respondents to the questionnaire provided by this research consist of 72% male and
28% female as evidenced in the Figure 1.
Figure 1: Gender
The age range of the respondents varies from 18 to 35. The rate of those respondents who
are between 18-22 is 18%, those who are between 22-28 is 64% and those who are between 28-35
is 18% as evidenced in Figure 2. These rates clearly indicate that most of the Syrian students in
İzmir are pursuing their undergraduate studies.
Figure 2: Age
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Educational challenges
The Syrian university students studying in İzmir consider YÖS as a very difficult test to
qualify for enrolling to a public university. They draw the attention to the quotas in the HEIs
reserved for Syrian migrants and consider them as limiting their opportunities. Thus they define
these challenges as the main obstacles on their access to higher education opportunities in Turkey.
The Syrian students’ responses to the questions on the challenges they face in educational
life are also related with the courses offered in the academic curriculum. In the questionnaire there
exist some questions that aim to determine their basic needs to recover those educational problems
such as the courses they expect to be added to the academic curriculum, their demands to learn
specific topics and to obtain skills for better employment opportunities. Respondents suggested new
courses such as Turkish language*, Syria-Turkey relations, cultural integration, labour market in
Turkey, courses on management and information technology skills, English language and
preparatory courses for the TOEFL test. As Hohberger (2017: 9) also stresses, the demand for
English language courses is very common among the Syrians students.
Through the questionnaire results, it is also aimed at determining Syrian students’
expectations of and suggestions for extracurricular activities throughout their higher education
experience in Turkey. Accordingly, the respondents’ demands consist of traineeship opportunities
and study trips to public and private institutions that they consider as prospective employers or
employees. Syrian university students mentioned their desire to be trained on arts and sports as
well.
* UNHCR Officer Neşe Kılınçoğlu stated as well that the inability to speak Turkish language is the first and the
most important challenge of the Syrians in Turkey. Kılınçoğlu added that the second important challenge is Syrians’
insufficient knowledge on their own righs and obligations. DGMM, International Students and Academics Social
Adaptation Meeting, İzmir, 23.12.2019.
Seri 1;
18-22; 4;
18%
Seri 1;
22-28;
14; 64%
Seri 1;
28-35; 4;
18%
18-22 22-28 28-35
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Socio-cultural challenges
The first question in the questionnaire regarding the socio-cultural life of Syrian university
students is about their integration into Turkish society. To determine their perception, they were
asked whether they agree with the idea that integration into Turkish society is easy or not. 55% of
the respondents agree that integration into Turkish society is easy, while 9% of the respondents
strongly disagree with this idea. The Figure 3 below demonstrates that most of the respondents do
not perceive great discrepancies between themselves and Turkish society.
Figure 3: Integration into society is easy
The second question regarding the socio-cultural life is about the willingness to acquire
Turkish citizenship in order to measure the Syrian students’ future plans concerning their intention
to stay in Turkey or not. While 86% of the respondents are willing to be granted Turkish
citizenship, the rest is still not sure whether to acquire. These results reflect that none of the
respondents reject the probability of acquiring Turkish citizenship. On the other hand, 14% of those
are not really sure about acquiring citizenship as depicted in Figure 4.
Figure 4: Are you planning to acquire Turkish citizenship?
Along with these indicators the respondents were also asked about their future plans whether
they would like to stay in Turkey after graduation. While 73% would like to continue living in
Strongly
agree
Agree
Neutral
Strongly
digagree
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Turkey, 23% of the respondents are not sure about their intention to live in Turkey. Only 1 of the
respondents clearly expressed her intention to leave the country. The elaboration of her personal
responses demonstrates that no ability to speak foreign languages other than Arabic and low level of
income might be the determining factors for her future plans.
As an important figure to understand social integration of Syrian students with the Turkish
society, an elaboration on their willingness to stay with Syrians in İzmir was also requested.
Although they demand to acquire Turkish citizenship and their intention to stay in Turkey is clear, it
is observed that they still wish to stay with their compatriots. While 36% of the respondents express
their choice to live with Syrians, 23% of them respond to this question negatively as can be seen in
Figure 5. It is also observed that 41% of the respondents do not have a concrete idea about their
choice on the features of the district where they would like to live.
Figure 5: Do you prefer staying with Syrians who reside in İzmir?
In order to better evaluate the level of socio-cultural integration of the respondents the role
of holding a university degree in the integration process was also directed as a supportive question.
What is found out from the responses is that holding a university degree is believed to be an
important factor that leads to social integration. While 91% of the respondents strongly support this
proposition, there is no single respondent who rejects that as can be seen in the Figure 6.
Figure 6: Do you think Syrians holding a university degree have more chance in integration into
Turkish society than who don't have?
Additionally gender discrimination as another factor that might be influential regarding
social integration is also included in the questionnaire. The respondents were asked about their
opinions whether female students face greater problems than the male ones. According to the
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respondents, gender issue is an important reference point in social integration of Syrian students in
İzmir. 45% of the respondents believe that female students do not have more problems than males
in terms of integration as shown in the Figure 7. However 36% of the respondents express about the
possibility for females to be discriminated in the society and 19% of the respondents claim that
female students are discriminated primarily in the labour market, and then in social and educational
life.
Figure 7: Do you think female Syrian students in İzmir have more problems than male ones?
In their answers to the open-ended questions, the respondents also expressed their demands
to have psychological counselling and guidance. Additionally, one of the respondents who have
been living in Turkey for 5 years has suggested an active dialogue between Turkish and Syrian
communities to reduce the misunderstandings, misleading information resources and cultural
differences. The same respondent has also underlined the importance of learning Turkish culture
and politics good enough and harmonization with Turkish traditions and lifestyle in order not to be
perceived as a foreigner in the society.
Economic challenges
In order to make an evaluation concerning the financial problems the Syrian university
students in İzmir face, it is aimed to draw a general picture about their economic status. In line with
this aim, the respondents were asked a question about their current employment status. As can be
seen in Figure 8 below, 9% of the respondents work and 14% identify themselves as being unable to
work. On the other hand those who are looking for work constitute the majority with the ratio of
55% and the rest is not looking for any work opportunities.
Figure 8: Employment Status: Are you currently…
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Considering the important role personal skills play in accommodating the candidate into the
labour market, the respondents were asked about the skills and knowledge that could be helpful for
an employment opportunity in Turkey. Accordingly 45% of the respondents think that having
language skills would improve their opportunities to find a job. A male respondent makes this
statement clear with the following words: “Learning Turkish so good not to be detected as a
foreigner”. This answer indicates that to be a foreigner in the Turkish labour market is perceived as
a disadvantage.
In line with the question above, the respondents were also asked about their specific needs to
be employed in Turkey. 45% of the respondents strongly believe that the first condition to find a job
in Turkey is to speak Turkish fluently. The respondents also underline the significance of having
computer skills and certificates of proficiency in English, learning about Turkish politics and
gaining knowledge on Turkish labour law. The suggested solutions of the respondents to overcome
their economic challenges include financial and moral support, new scholarship opportunities and
access to traineeship opportunities in order to sustain their higher education and get prepared to the
employment stage.
Figure 9: Are you planning to live and work in İzmir after graduation?
When Syrian students were asked about their future plans to live and work in İzmir
following their graduation from the university, it was found that 64% of the respondents state their
intention to continue living in İzmir as can be seen in Figure 9. This might be either due to being
accustomed to the lifestyle in İzmir or their social networking they have created during their stay.
Another reason why they choose İzmir might be arising from its geographical proximity to Europe.
This elaboration depends on their preferences they expressed when other countries where they
would like to work have been asked. Those preferences are mostly centred on Canada, the U.S. and
the EU member states such as Germany and Austria.
6. CONCLUSION
The Readmission Agreement between the EU and Turkey aimed at decreasing the number of
irregular migrants passing across the Aegean Sea through Turkey and eventually arriving at the
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bloc’s territory. Accordingly, the migrants who arrive in Greece illegally and whose application for
seeking refuge has been refused by the authorities are sent back to Turkey. However, after the
suspension of the Agreement, Turkey needs to follow alternative policies for the Syrian migrants.
The need to formulate alternative policies mainly focused on the integration issues of
migrants, especially the Syrians, in Turkey into the host society. Over time this approach has been
evolved from integration into the adaptation of foreign population since their socio-economic and
psychological vulnerability required more sensitive policies to be able to overcome the challenges.
Accordingly the early ad hoc solutions have been replaced with comprehensive approaches towards
many services including the higher education in order to meet the needs of university-aged Syrian
migrants. Turkey’s humanitarian efforts on these new policy areas are regarded as being exemplary
when compared with other states.
Considering the aforementioned exemplary policies Turkey has been following for the
adaptation of Syrian migrants in Turkey, this study aims to detect to what extent the Syrian
university students in İzmir could benefit from these policies to better analyse the current
developments and put forward future prospects in this regard. The findings of the research reveal
the local needs of Syrian university students in İzmir as well as their general needs and expectations
so that they can provide the academics and public institutions to compare İzmir case with the other
cases in Turkey.
The data on socio-economic problems and perceptions regarding the integration issues have
been collected through the questionnaire prepared by the authors. Economic challenges seem to
remain in spite of the scholarships and funds provided by both international institutions and national
agencies. Half of the respondents emphasized that, they are searching for employment. Even though
high number of young Syrians in Turkey is not involved in higher education, İzmir case
differentiates from the average number. The Syrian students perceive the YÖS exam as a
considerable hurdle on their way to university life. In this vein, competency in Turkish language is
regarded as a determining factor in their success both in achieving university studies and potential
employment opportunities. Furthermore, the respondents have reflected their willingness both to
learn and advance their English language skills. When approached from the socio-cultural
perspective, almost half of the respondents reflected that they have been at ease with integrating with
the Turkish society. The aim to obtain Turkish citizenship has been almost a common desire for
nearly all of the respondents. In addition to that, a university diploma is perceived to be a promoter
of social integration with the Turkish society.
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This article puts forward that a better prospect of successful integration of Syrians with the
Turkish society has become an imperative since the conflict in Syria has not been resolved yet and
the Readmission Agreement between Turkey and the EU has been suspended very recently. This is
further consolidated with one of the questionnaire results stating that Syrian university students in
İzmir have a strong tendency to continue living in Turkey. The students will both have a relative
advantage in adapting to the Turkish society and labour market. This will catalyze the integration of
Syrians in general with the society and improve Turkish citizens’ perceptions towards Syrians. An
efficient and goal-oriented higher education policy and strong coordination between the public
institutions such as CoHE, DGMM, YTB and public universities will help the Syrian students
integrate into socio-cultural, economic and educational life and equip them with necessary
qualifications and skills.
INTERVIEWEES
Interviewee 1: Interview with an officer in charge of International Students at the International
Relations Office of Dokuz Eylül University, 25 July 2019.
Interviewee 2: Interview with an officer from İzmir Office of Presidency for Turks Abroad and
Related Communities, 7 December 2018.
Interviewee 3: Interview with an academic specialist from Council of Higher Education, 5
December 2018.
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