Graduate-level education in data analysis and development economics will be available to refugees around the world after a pioneering new partnership between the MicroMasters team at the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) at MIT, and the ReACT Hub.

The goal of this new collaboration is to empower refugees with training that will enable them to leverage their local knowledge, build their technical skills, and become experts in the fields of development economics and public policy.

Selected refugees will be sponsored by ReACT to join the MIT MicroMasters program in Data, Economics and Development Policy (DEDP) at the prestigious institution. 

The MicroMasters program combines online instruction, in-person workshops, and paid internships, to enable refugee learners to advance both their education and professional career in an accessible and affordable manner.  A MicroMasters is a professional and academic credential, accredited by MITx, MIT’s online learning platform, and offers individuals a route to applying for a full Master’s degree program at MIT or other universities.

Following these efforts, J-PAL hopes to empower refugees with individual roadmaps to education and career opportunities.  These will support J-PAL’s mission to reduce poverty by ensuring policies and programs are informed by scientific evidence.

Anna Schrimpf, Post-Doctoral Associate at J-PAL, said: “Our hope is the refugee learners selected for ReACT scholarships will be able to gain strong technical skills and meaningful professional experiences in evidence-based policymaking that they can bring back to their communities and put into practice.”

Hassan Jameel, President of Community Jameel Saudi Arabia said: “Education and learning are fundamental to a strong society, and providing access to MIT’s MicroMasters is a foundation upon which to rebuild the disrupted education and careers of refugees worldwide.

 “Building on the computer science and entrepreneurship support for refugees in Jordan, this collaborative effort between J-PAL, MIT, and ReACT, creates another bespoke learning opportunity for refugees, opening doors and knocking down barriers to higher education for learners.”

Click here to find out more about the Micromasters and ReACT Hub partnership.