Managed by the JKU's International Welcome Center, the MORE initiative focuses on successfully integrating refugees and fostering equal opportunity. The initiative aims to provide support services to young people fleeing or displaced on account of warring conflict in their home countries. In addition to having an opportunity to pursue education and actively take part socially in the community, they can also lead a more peaceful, independent life. Integration efforts undertaken by the International Welcome Center department were recognized in 2024 when the Center was presented with the Upper Austrian Integration Award in the category of Language and Work.

Sonja Falkner-Matzinger, head of the International Welcome Center and the MORE Initiative at the JKU, remarked: “Small actions can often result in a larger impact as targeted information and just a small amount of financial support can mean having to work less, allowing students to put more time in their studies and graduate faster.”

Borealis AG generously provides a scholarship for refugee and displaced students, enabling many of them to achieve their academic goals and unlock their skills and potential. Their stories are a real-life example of just how important it is to help those in critical situations so they can successfully settle and integrate themselves in their new home.

Roland Mungwele (27) is from the Congo and successfully completed his Master's degree in Molecular Biology. He was able to complete his studies promptly thanks to the Borealis-MORE scholarship and he now works as a laboratory technician in the field of cytogenetics.

Hadil Najjar (32) is from Syria and earned a Master’s degree at the JKU, followed by a doctorate degree in natural sciences, making her the first Borealis MORE scholarship recipient to earn the highest academic degree, namely a doctorate. Hadil Najjar’s is a post-doc researcher in the Genetic Code Expansion research group at the JKU’s Institute of Biophysics.

Ali Mojahed (30) is from Afghanistan and successfully completed his Bachelor's degree in computer sciences. He is now looking to use his acquired programming skills to enter the job market.

Markus Horcher, Director of Sustainability & Public Affairs at Borealis, adds: “Diversity, a drive to conduct research, integration, and education are deeply rooted in Borealis' DNA. When it comes to integrating into society and professional life, education and training are key factors and it is important to us to provide refugees with an opportunity to pursue university education, or continue the degree program they began in their home countries before conflict broke out. Together with the JKU, Borealis launched the MORE initiative in 2017 and has been its sole sponsor ever since. We are more than happy to have provided a scholarship that has enabled three additional motivated students to earn their respective degrees and we congratulate them on their academic success!”

Highest Number of Scholarship Recipients to Date
The Borealis-MORE scholarship provides financial support and individual consulting services to students who were forced to flee, or were displaced, during their studies on account of conflict in their home countries. Funding varies between €110 and €360 per month, depending on asylum status. There are currently 30 students in the scholarship program, over half of which are enrolled in degree programs at the Faculty of Engineering & Natural Sciences. 40% of Borealis-MORE scholarship recipients are women.

See: https://www.jku.at/iwc/more/, opens an external URL in a new window to learn more about the MORE Initiative and the Borealis MORE scholarship.