DHAKA: The first online university for refugees, which offers them a free higher education wherever they are in the world, has launched in Germany.

Kiron University says all students need is a computer and an internet connection. For those who do not have access to the internet, offline courses are offered - meaning they can be downloaded where internet access is available.

To enroll, students have to submit documents including the recognition of refugee status from UNHCR, reports Al Jazeera.

To fund its activities, the non-profit university used a crowdfunding campaign before it launched in October that has so far gathered $216,636.

Based in Berlin, Kiron currently offers courses from five different schools to 1,000 students. At least 15,000 other refugees have shown interest in joining the university.

Tim Brandt, Kiron University’s spokesperson, told Al Jazeera that the idea was born in the summer of 2014, when the founders, Vincent Zimmer and Markus Kressler, discussed their vision of a university 2.0 at a conference.

‘Vincent was eager to start a revolution in higher education by developing a new kind of university that incorporates technological advances and focuses more on the individual learner,’ Brandt said.

BDST: 1500 HRS, OCT 29, 2015
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