CSR Implementations in refugee education: the case of Syrians in Turkey

Abstract

Purpose Global governmentality to deal with refugee crises and related cohesion problems suggests the private sector’s activation. The purpose of this study is to theoretically understand this preference together with the global increase of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and empirically access the CSR implementation in Turkey by focussing on government policy towards refugee education for Syrian children in Turkey. Design/methodology/approach This study offers insights into the picture of CSR implementation in Turkey deriving from an analysis of secondary data, obtained from multiple sources. This analysis is examined in the context of refugee education with the position of Turkish Government. Findings This study reveals an increase of the private sector’s role in refugee education at the global level by CSR implementations besides privatization of national education. It determines Turkish CSR picture is still developing, but bodies of Turkish government persisting its “soft power” are seen as CSR projects’ indispensable partner. It discusses the meaning of digital solutions in refugee education and attempts at using technological innovations to supply language training in the CSR context. Originality/value Although plenty of research has been conducted on the refugee education, CSR in the countries faced with large refugee influxes has not received enough attention in the literature. This study attempts to fill the gap in literature dealing with CSR implementations in refugee education. It also contributes to the understanding of the Turkish context of CSR.

Skill Mismatch, Nepotism, Job Satisfaction, and Young Females in the MENA Region

“…In looking for remedies for joblessness, Sunata and Özdemir (2021) focused on the necessity of involving the private sector in educating Syrian refugee children in Turkey, specifically in language education, relative to global refugee governance; this can lead to fewer skill mismatches among refugees when they are ready to enter the labor force (Awada 2021;Brun and Shuayb 2020;Coban 2023;Crul et al 2019; El Khoury and Ardizzola 2021; Greaves et al 1999Greaves et al , 2019EL Kaissi 2023;Kanafani 2023;Kelcey 2019;Kelcey and Chatila 2020;Shuayb and Crul 2020). Uduji and Okolo-Obasi (2021) examined Nigeria's multinational oil companies' initiatives on the migration of rural youths; one implication of their study showcases that these companies' intervention in youth development initiatives, creating jobs and providing financial support for local entrepreneurs, could deter such a migration (Mazzetto and El-Khoury 2020;Pollock et al 2019).…”

“…In addition, it may be beneficial to systematically reform the vocational and postsecondary programs to meet the needs of the labor market, and robustly work on making these programs compatible with the labor market's needs (Lin and Wang 2005). Moreover, the consolidation of investments by the private sector (i.e., local language education for immigrants Sunata and Özdemir 2021;Afolabi Ibikunle et al 2022;Harakeh 2020) in youth and student employment programs targeting specific sectors can provide a proper pathway for matching skills with appropriate positions.…”

Turkey's Humanitarian Aid Through Education Provision of the Syrian Children School-Aged Refugees

“…This project focuses on Syrian refugees in Turkey, and it is estimated that as many as 37 thousand refugees aged 3-5 years have received education and treatment services at the beginning of 2018. The Turkish Ministry of Education is a vital actor in enhancing the educational experience of Syrian refugee children, such as through support provided by the government to NGO-based TECs (Sunata & Özdemir 2021).…”