UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences of the University of South Bohemia officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today, launching a strategic partnership aimed at advancing refugee integration and social support in Czechia through education, research, and professional development.
The agreement, concluded with the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, will promote academic and practical cooperation focused on social support to refugees and other forcibly displaced populations. The initiative will enhance student engagement, foster research, and build professional capacity in areas critical to refugee reception and integration.
“This collaboration marks an important milestone in our ongoing efforts to support refugees in their reception and integration process within host, ensuring they have access to specialized social support,” said Ajmal Khybari, Head of UNHCR Czechia. “Together with the University of South Bohemia, we are building a platform for future professionals to contribute meaningfully to inclusive societies and durable solutions for displaced people.”
Through this partnership, students will gain access to guest lectures, seminars, and workshops delivered by UNHCR experts, as well as extracurricular activities such as conferences and public discussions on forced displacement and statelessness. Beyond teaching, cooperation will strengthen academic research on key topics including refugee integration policies, national social protection systems, and social work practices.
“This partnership provides our students with invaluable experience and skills that will prepare them to work with forcibly displaced people in a variety of professional contexts,” said Mgr. Ivana Chloubová, Ph.D., Dean of the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences.
The collaboration reflects the shared commitment of both institutions to foster a more informed, compassionate, and skilled generation of professionals equipped to support displaced people.
