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The Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative, known as the DAFI scholarship programme, offers qualified refugee and returnee students the possibility to earn an undergraduate degree in their country of asylum or home country. Through the dedicated support of donors, and in particular of the Government of Germany, along with the Government of Denmark, as well as private partners and foundations, UNHCR’s DAFI scholarship programme has supported over 26,300 young refugees to undertake tertiary studies in 59 countries since 1992. In the context of UNHCR’s 15by30 target – to achieve 15 per cent of enrolment of refugees in higher education by 2030 – the DAFI programme continues to play a critical role worldwide in strengthening the inclusion of refugees in higher education.
The DAFI scholarship programme aims at:
• promoting refugee self-reliance through increased access to opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship;
• empowering refugee students to contribute to their communities through knowledge, skills, leadership and volunteering;
• strengthening the protective impact of education by encouraging lifelong learning;
• promoting role models for refugee children and youth;
• enhancing social cohesion between refugee and host communities.
In Slovakia, while 8 students were initially awarded the scholarship during the academic year 2022/2023, the number of DAFI scholars reached 31 during the academic year 2023/2024. The programme further expanded during the academic year 2024/2025, with a total of 40 students currently supported in Slovakia.