SAP Funding 100 Scholarships for Refugee and Displaced Students at UoPeople

The scholarship will provide 50 associate degrees and 50 bachelor’s degrees in computer science or business administration for refugees and displaced youth, aged 18-30

PASADENA, CA (February 7, 2022) – SAP, the market leader in enterprise application software, announced today that it is partnering with University of the People (UoPeople) to fund 100 scholarships for refugee and displaced youth from around the globe.

The partnership is part of SAP’s 50th anniversary celebrations. It will provide 50 associate degrees and 50 bachelor’s degrees in computer science or business administration for refugees and displaced youth, aged 18-30. This demographic has the greatest need for scholarships, and SAP wants to support these students who are seeking a brighter future for themselves and their families.

UoPeople is the first nonprofit, tuition-free, American accredited online university dedicated to providing access to higher education globally. Designed to open access to higher education globally, UoPeople helps qualified high school graduates overcome the financial, geographic, political, and personal constraints keeping them from college studies through fully virtual learning. With over 117,000 students from 200 countries worldwide, UoPeople allows students to earn accredited degrees taught by faculty that include scholars from some of the leading universities in the world.

“At SAP, we know that education is a key to unlocking innovation, opportunity, and creating sustainable futures for generations,” said Julia White, Chief Marketing and Solutions Officer and member of the Executive Board at SAP. “One of our industry-leading Corporate Social Responsibility focus areas is powering equitable access to education and employment, in alignment with SAP’s vision of helping the world run better and improving people’s lives.”

University of the People was established in 2009 on the belief that higher education is a fundamental right for all and access to higher education can promote world peace and global economic development. UNESCO estimates that by 2025 there will be nearly 100 million people internationally seeking seats in universities that don’t exist. The traditional higher ed system simply does not have the capacity or capability to provide quality academic degree programs that are accessible to massive numbers of students at an affordable cost.

“Refugees and displaced peoples have the greatest need for educational support right now,” says UoPeople President Shai Reshef. “This partnership with SAP will help to alleviate the financial burden on our students who are seeking support. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the spiraling costs of higher education, a growing number of students are taking advantage of our online education model because it provides flexible, affordable, and equitable opportunities to earn a college degree.”

SAP and UoPeople recognize the positive ripple effect when all people, especially from under-resourced communities, have access to higher education. Through education, not only does it promote innovation and economic growth, but students can attain competitive job opportunities and security, ultimately leading to poverty alleviation, higher income potential, and stable living environments for themselves and their families for future generations.

“This scholarship opportunity for students at University of the People will bring us a bit closer to a world with equitable education opportunities and future innovation, especially for those adjusting to the challenges of uprooting their lives in search of a hopeful future,” said White. “SAP is committed to supporting the leaders of tomorrow, and access to higher education is a significant first step to equip them with the right skills for the future.”

Interested students who meet the scholarship criteria of being a refugee or displaced person aged 18-30 can apply online. Students can apply for cohorts that enroll in either April 2022 or June 2022. All virtual classes are taught in English, except for the associate and bachelor’s of business administration degrees which are also available entirely in Arabic. For more information or to apply, visit the scholarship site on University of the People’s website.

# # #

About University of the People

University of the People (UoPeople) is the Education Revolution. It is the first non-profit, tuition-free, American, accredited online university. Currently there are over 117,000 students from more than 200 countries and territories. Designed to open access to higher education globally, UoPeople helps qualified high school graduates overcome financial, geographic, political, and personal constraints keeping them from collegiate studies. The university offers associate and bachelor’s degree programs in business administration, computer science, and health science, as well as an MBA and M.Ed. program. Graduates of UoPeople can be found working at such companies as Amazon, Apple, Pfizer, Google, Microsoft and IBM. Chaired by NYU’s President Emeritus John Sexton, UoPeople’s President’s Council is comprised of two dozen leaders of the world’s foremost institutions. UoPeople collaborates with Harvard Business School Online, New York University, McGill University, and the University of Edinburgh and has been supported by foundations such as the Gates Foundation, Ford Foundation and Hewlett Foundation. Learn more at www.uopeople.edu.

.