Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is Kiron Open Higher Education and Kiron Campus?

Kiron Open Higher Education is an education technology non-profit devoted to providing accessible education to forcibly displaced persons (i.e. refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced people, stateless people) and certain underserved communities worldwide. Kiron offers access to education through self-paced courses on the Kiron Campus and cohort education programs with the aim for them to strengthen professional skills and improve their livelihoods. The Kiron Campus is a virtual platform where hundreds of self-paced online courses by Kiron and other partners such as Coursera, Kaya, Edraak etc. can be accessed free of charge.

Q: Is Kiron available in all countries?

Learn more about the countries where Kiron is available.

Q: I am unsure which terminology for Kiron's focus best describes me. What do they mean?

Forcibly Displaced Person/Forced Migrant: Refugee: Asylum seeker: Underserved (Host Country) Community:

Q: When do my courses start?

At Kiron, you can start at any time. Since you will be learning online, there are no semesters like at school or university, so it is important to organize your own time. There are two types of courses available on Kiron Campus: Self-paced: you can start these courses at any time you want and take the time you need to finish them. Courses with a time limit: those courses have a fixed start date and final date but you are flexible to choose when and how much you study during the week. We strongly recommend that you don't study more than three courses at the same time. Finish a course before you enroll in a new one.

Question 1

What is Kiron Open Higher Education and Kiron Campus?

Answer

Kiron is a nonprofit organization dedicated to offering accessible and innovative education for refugees, migrants, and underserved communities globally. Since 2015, Kiron has reached over 200,000 learners to improve their skills for the labor market through its comprehensive digital platform, Kiron Campus, and blended learning programs, fostering academic, professional, and personal growth.

Question 2

What do I need if I want to study with Kiron?

Answer

You need four basic things to register and start learning with Kiron:

(1) A document that proves your status as a refugee, asylum seeker, internally displaced person, or belonging to a certain underserved community.
(2) A computer, tablet, or smartphone
(3) A stable internet connection
(4) Time to study

Question 3

Is Kiron available in all countries?

Answer

The Kiron campus is available worldwide. However, due to our partnership with Coursera, a US-based company that must adhere to US government sanctions, prospective learners from some countries may not be able to access our learning program Coursera for Refugees. Learn more about the countries here.

For Kiron's blended learning prorams, availability is dependent on the program. Learn more here. (https://www.kiron.ngo/programs-at-kiron)

Question 4

Does Kiron get me into a university?

Answer

Unfortunately, Kiron does not offer specific support for students to apply to a university and students don’t get admitted to an accredited educational institution by learning with Kiron.

Question 5

Do I have to pay for courses?

Answer

All courses and offers that you find on Kiron Campus or part of our learning programs are free for Kiron verified students. If you are ever asked to pay for a Kiron service, offer or course, please do not pay but contact us via student-support@kiron.ngo.

Question 6

How does Kiron deal with my private data?

Answer

Kiron complies with the General Data Protection Regulation (EU - GDPR) as an organization based in the European Union, and your data is safe with us. We will never share any personal information with partners or other Kiron learners without your consent. If you want to have your account and your personal information deleted from our database you can request it by sending us an email to student-support@kiron.ngo.

Question 7

I am unsure which terminology for Kiron’s focus best describes me. What do they mean?

Answer

Forcibly Displaced Person/Forced Migrant: This is a broad term that encompasses individuals who have been compelled to leave their homes or places of habitual residence due to external factors beyond their control. This can include refugees, asylum seekers, and internally displaced persons and stateless persons.

‍Refugee: A refugee is a person who has been forced to flee their home country because they have a well-founded fear of persecution based on factors such as their race, religion, nationality, political beliefs, or membership in a particular social group. They seek refuge and protection in another country.

‍Asylum seeker: An asylum seeker is someone who has left their home country and applied for asylum (protection) in another country but has not yet been granted refugee status. They are seeking international protection because they fear persecution in their home country. During the asylum process, their claim is evaluated to determine if they meet the criteria for refugee status.

‍Underserved (Host Country) Community: This refers to groups of individuals who are citizens of countries where Kiron has activities, such as Afghanistan, but who have limited access to education.

Question 8

Why do you require documents for verification?

Answer

Due to Kiron’s focus on providing education access to forcibly displaced persons and our partnership agreements, we require documents to ensure we are accepting people that have experienced forced migration.

Question 9

How does studying online work?

Answer

Studying online means taking all your courses through a computer, smartphone, or tablet device. This provides a lot of flexibility, as you can study anytime and anywhere. This also means that you are responsible for your own progress, so you need to stay motivated and find time to study. We encourage our learners to connect with other learners in our community to help stay motivated and engaged.

A stable internet connection is very important to study online. If you do not have internet access at home, we suggest you find a library or internet cafe with good internet access.

Question 10

When do my courses start?

Answer

On the Kiron Campus, you can start at any time. Since you will be learning online, there are no semesters like at school or university, so it is important to organize your own time. There are two types of courses available on the Kiron Campus:

Self-paced: you can start these courses at any time you want and take the time you need to finish them.
Courses with a time limit: those courses have a fixed start date and final date but you are flexible to choose when and how much you study during the week. We strongly recommend that you don't study more than three courses at the same time. Finish a course before you enroll in a new one.

If you're participating in one of Kiron's upskilling or job-readiness programs, the start date is unique to that program. Please refer to the program webpage, your program's point of contact, or reach out to student-suppport@kiron.ngo.

Question 11

Can Kiron help me get a job?

Answer

Kiron offers tailored job-readiness support to learners, through resources including our online help center, mentoring programs, coaching sessions, and more. Through specific learning programs, we also offer internship placement services and direct connections to employers to create pathways into employment.

Question 12

Can I get a degree?

Answer

Kiron is not an accredited university and, therefore, we do not offer Bachelor’s or Master’s degrees. However, learners can earn certificates for courses and programs that can strengthen job and university applications.

Question 13

Can I get a scholarship?

Answer

All courses and offers that you find on our programs page and on the Kiron Campus are free of charge for verified Kiron learners. Unfortunately, Kiron is not a scholarship provider and, due to limited resources, we are unable to provide any further financial support to our students.

Question 14

Does Kiron offer language courses?

Answer

Yes! On the Kiron Campus, we offer English and German language courses from levels A1 (beginner) to C2 (fluency).

Question 15

What support services are available for learners?

Answer

On the Kiron Campus, learners can contact student support for inquiries not found on our support page.
Kiron Campus learners can join topic channels to connect with others, ask questions and stay motivated to learn.
Kiron learners participating in our blended learning programs can get tailored feedback, mentorship, coaching, and more support dependent on the program they're enrolled in.

Question 16

I have more questions not answered here. Where else can I go to?

Answer

Visit our support page here to search and learn more (support.kiron.ngo/hc/en-us)