The role of universities in early recovery in early recovery in northwestern Syria: Al -Sham University as a model

Abstract

The success of early recovery programs is a crucial entry point for ending conflict. Typically, the initiation of early recovery programs is associated with reaching a political settlement and agreeing on a national government to lead these programs. The Syrian context presents a different scenario where the conflict was relatively frozen between 2020 and 2024 and then resolved by the opposition. During the frozen period of conflict, there was no national government agreed upon by all parties to lead early recovery efforts. This situation will allow non-state actors to increase their roles in the early recovery process

This research looked at the potential and actual role of Sham University, a private university which has been operating in areas not controlled by the Syrian government in northwest Syria, in the field of early recovery. Traditionally, university activities have focused on three main sectors: education, scientific research, and public service, areas which can all serve to stimulate the university's contributions to early recovery. This paper discusses Sham University's contributions in the fields of local institutional governance, enhancing stability through the provision of essential services, promoting social cohesion through the integration of displaced persons, stimulating the economic cycle, peacebuilding, and reconstruction. The extent of these contributions is linked to three key factors:

First: The understanding of what early recovery means to university staff and lecturers and its future implications.

Second: The adoption of the principle of social responsibility by the university, and whether this is linked to a community vision adopted in its operations.

Third: The size and type of contributions made by the university that can be included in the field of early recovery.

However, while the research examined the role of universities in early recovery in northwestern Syria, while it was under opposition control, between 2020 and the end of 2024, since an analysis of the results the context has changed significantly. On November 27, 2024, the Syrian opposition launched a surprise military operation that ended with the overthrow of the regime and the opposition taking control. This is already having clear effects on role of universities and the contributions they may be able to make. While the situation is still very much one of early recovery it is no longer a frozen conflict and developments provide an important particularly to institutions, like Sham which were set up in areas that were under opposition control. A key example is overcoming the hurdle of recognition and accreditation.

Developments provide both an opportunity and a threat to Sham University in terms of increasing or decreasing its expected role, linked to its ability to adapt to political change, the emerging logistical, financial, and human challenges and the levels of stability that the new administration will be able to create.

The research data indicates that the contributions universities make are not always measurable with no clear correlation between the size of the contribution and the expected positive impact. In some cases, the contribution has been or may be effective, but its impact negative, for example reinforcing local identities at the expense of national identity. This is likely to have repercussions on the future of the Syrian state.