We are very proud to share that Charles Murata, a recent EMMIR graduate from Zimbabwe, was featured in the newspaper NWZ for his outstanding academic achievements and accomplishments.
Charles, one of 28 students in this year's EMMIR cohort, received the Most Innovative Thesis award for his master's thesis, which explored the experiences of Ukrainian refugees in the Czech Republic.
Charles’s journey to Oldenburg was far from easy. Before joining the EMMIR programme, he worked as a migrant laborer in South African mines to fund his education. His own experience with displacement, after tropical storms devastated his hometown in Zimbabwe, deeply influenced his research and academic path.
Dr. Lydia Potts, EMMIR’s programme coordinator, highlighted the importance of the psychosocial support and work-life balance workshops that were introduced during the pandemic, which helped ensure that all graduates students completed their studies on time.
Charles plans to continue his career in research, and we couldn’t be prouder of his accomplishments and perseverance. His story is a testament to the strength and resilience of our diverse EMMIR community.
Below is an online translation of the article:
From South African miner to top graduate
By Friederike Liebscher, Redaktion Oldenburg
12.09.2024, 16:20
Oldenburg – The fact that Charles Murata was able to celebrate his top-grade exam in the University’s auditorium is something very special. The 31-year-old is from Zimbabwe, and his path in life has not always been easy. To finance his studies, he worked as a migrant laborer in mines in South Africa. He came to Oldenburg for his Master’s degree in Migration and Intercultural Relations, as one of 28 students from 21 countries.
His master’s thesis, which focused on Ukrainian refugees in the Czech Republic, has now won an award. Charles has had personal experience with displacement himself. "My hometown was hit by tropical storms," he says. Despite the difficult circumstances in his life, he has never been discouraged. The 31-year-old also intends to remain in research in the future.
Ali Dad Mohammadi, another graduate from Afghanistan, has also experienced displacement. "I was fleeing with my family in Afghanistan, lived as a migrant in Iran, and as an asylum seeker in Pakistan," says the 35-year-old. He wants to stay in Germany, ideally in Oldenburg, after completing his studies. "The people here are nice. I now speak the language well and feel at home."
Support for timely completion
Dr. Lydia Potts, a lecturer in the program, is proud that the students completed their degrees exactly on schedule. "Since the COVID-19 pandemic, we have started offering students psychosocial support and workshops on work-life balance. We believe that this has significantly contributed to all 28 students finishing on time, exactly two years after starting the four-semester master’s program."
400 applications from around the world
Approximately 400 applications are received annually from all over the world for the program. The project coordination and partner institutions carefully select 30 students through an elaborate and well-coordinated process. The graduates are successfully working in renowned international organizations, such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) or Doctors Without Borders, as well as in national government organizations.
Charles received his Edition's award for the most innovative thesis at the graduation ceremony in Oldenburg, Germany on 06 September 2024.
Congratulations to Charles on your accomplishments!
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