Jusoor's partnership with the Institute of International Education (IIE) opened a pathway for displaced Syrian professionals and graduates to earn a MicroMasters® certificate in Business Management through edX, offered by the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMBx), and is one of India's leading business schools.
The first cohort, six Syrian scholars based in Lebanon, Jordan, Türkiye, and Germany, enrolled in September 2024 and completed the program in December 2025. All participants graduated, earning their MicroMasters certificate and the option to apply it toward an accelerated, reduced-cost full Master's degree at IIMBx.
The IIE-Jusoor MicroMasters in Business Management is a graduate-level online program comprising six courses — Operations Management, People Management with Impact, Corporate Finance, Strategic Management, Accounting for Decision-Making, and Marketing Management — with all course fees covered and a stipend provided to offset study-related costs.
Beyond coursework, scholars had access to Jusoor's full support ecosystem, including mental health services, professional development opportunities, a dedicated Learning Management System built on Notion for progress tracking and accountability, regular check-ins, mentorship, and integration into Jusoor's global alumni network.
Graduates reported meaningful growth in strategy and planning, leadership, and data-informed decision-making, with many applying their learning directly to their work — from optimizing MEAL frameworks and developing startup business plans to improving NGO program management workflows.
Meet the IIE-Jusoor MicroMasters Graduates
Mohamad Al Fayad
Mohamad Al Fayad is a Jusoor–IIE MicroMasters alumnus who completed the Business Management program in 2025. A Syrian refugee based in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, he holds a BBA in Hospitality and Tourism Management from the Lebanese International University and a BA in Communication Arts from Southern New Hampshire University, where he has also been serving as an Academic Advisor since 2022. Alongside this, he works as a Facilitator in the University and Student Advising Program at Mosaik Education, and has volunteered as a Math Teacher and mentor in professional skills development programs. His background also includes field research with Multi-Aid Programs, where he facilitated focus group discussions and collected data for a rapid needs assessment on the impact of the Ukraine crisis on refugee and host communities across Lebanon. Through the MicroMasters, Mohamad deepened his foundation in business and management, complementing a career built around student support, facilitation, and community empowerment.
Achievements since graduation:
Mohamad Al Fayad has continued building on his background in academic advising, facilitation, and student support through his ongoing roles with Southern New Hampshire University and Mosaik Education, further strengthening his professional profile in education and community support.
Ahmad AlSayadi
Ahmad AlSayadi is a Jusoor alum who completed an Electrical and Electronic Engineering degree from Isparta University in Türkiye under Jusoor's Hardship Fund and later the Jusoor–IIE MicroMasters in Business Management in 2025. He has built a career in the MEAL field within the humanitarian sector, currently serving as Senior MEAL Officer at People in Need in Gaziantep, where he works across framework design, donor reporting, data quality, and Power BI dashboards. He has also delivered MEAL training in collaboration with Baraka Humanitarian Foundation and cascaded a Training of Trainers experience to staff in Syria, reflecting a profile that extends from technical data work into capacity building and knowledge sharing.
Achievements since graduation:
Ahmad AlSayadi has continued advancing in the MEAL field through his role as Senior MEAL Officer at People in Need, where he contributes to MEAL frameworks, theories of change, donor reporting, data quality processes, and Power BI dashboards. He has also delivered specialized MEAL trainings and helped cascade Training of Trainers content to field and program staff in Syria
Ali Al Hamadi
Ali Al Hamadi is a Jusoor alum with over ten years of experience across UN agencies, humanitarian organizations, and community-based initiatives, with a focus on youth empowerment, career guidance, disability inclusion, and economic development. He holds a degree in Medical Laboratory Sciences from Al-Hashemite University, a Diploma in Business Administration, and completed the Jusoor–IIE MicroMasters in Business Management in 2025, while currently finishing a Master's in Business Administration. He founded the Syrian Trainer Club in Zaatari Camp in 2018, a youth-led initiative that supported the skills development of more than 200 development workers. His professional experience spans roles at IRC, UNICEF Jordan, Ruwwad, FORSA, WUSC, and Vento di Terra NGO, covering child protection, site management, career counseling, employment support, and disability inclusion. Across all of these roles, Ali has combined direct community engagement with structured program delivery, building a profile that bridges frontline support with capacity building and project coordination.
Achievements since graduation:
Ali Al Hamadi started field training with the Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS) in the Psycho-Social Services department. He has continued expanding his work in youth support, employability, and refugee guidance through his role as Job Matching Tutor / Career Advisor & Employment Support at Vento di Terra, while also continuing as a Refugee Guidance Counsellor with WUSC. He is additionally progressing in his academic path through work on his Master’s thesis in Business Administration.
Asmaa Baghdadi
Asmaa Baghdadi is a Syrian entrepreneur and Jusoor–IIE MicroMasters alumna with over eight years of experience in project coordination, operations, and financial reporting. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Arab International University and is the Founder and CEO of SyrGo, an impact startup she launched in 2021 to help refugees and immigrants outside Syria access civil and personal legal documents — an idea born from her own experience navigating bureaucratic obstacles while registering her marriage through the Syrian embassy abroad. Alongside SyrGo, she has held project and operations management roles internationally, including as a Project Manager at Umbrella500 in Luxembourg. Her work combines entrepreneurial leadership with a clear focus on justice-driven solutions for underserved communities.
Achievements since graduation:
Asmaa Baghdadi has continued leading SyrGo, her justice-focused startup that supports refugees and immigrants in accessing Syrian civil and personal legal documents, while building on her broader experience in project and operations management.
Ismaeil Al Sous
Ismaeil Al Sous is a Syrian professional based in Lebanon and a Jusoor–IIE MicroMasters alumnus who holds a BA in Healthcare Management from Southern New Hampshire University, where he was supported by a full scholarship through the Global Education Movement. He has over three years of experience in project coordination and program support, currently working as a Programs Assistant at Jadwa06 in Tripoli, where he supports donor-funded projects across program delivery, MEAL, fundraising, and community engagement, and has contributed to over 15 proposals targeting UN agencies, the EU, and international foundations. He also serves as Project Coordinator for Gourmet Market, a social enterprise initiative supporting food and beverage entrepreneurs in North Lebanon. Beyond his professional roles, Ismaeil has accumulated eight years of volunteer experience with organizations including Amideast and Teach for Lebanon, and has contributed to mentorship, data systems, and GBV training, reflecting a profile that combines operational expertise with a sustained commitment to community impact.
Achievements since graduation:
Ismaeil Al Sous has strengthened his role in nonprofit and community programming through his work as a Programs Assistant at Jadwa06, where he supports donor-funded projects across MEAL, community engagement, fundraising, and reporting. He has also supported a MEAL and data systems transition with Alsama Project, helping move student records from Excel-based systems to PowerSchool.
Rama Harba
Rama Harba is a Syrian communications professional and Jusoor–IIE MicroMasters alumna based in Lebanon, holding a Bachelor's degree in Communications with a minor in Business from Southern New Hampshire University. She has built experience across consultancies, INGOs, and mission-driven organizations, currently working as a Consultant at Mashora Advisory and as a Communications Consultant at the Access Center for Human Rights. Her previous roles include Partnerships Officer at Multi-Aid Programs, Vice Curator with the Global Shapers Community in Lebanon, and Communications and Reporting Assistant at 360 Consulting Agency. Across these positions, she has developed a profile that combines strategic communication, partnership development, and structured reporting, applied to projects focused on access and advocacy for underserved communities. Her work is further informed by her own experience as a refugee and a certification in Conflict Sensitivity and Do-No-Harm from International Alert and UNDP.
Achievements since graduation:
Rama Harba has expanded her professional profile by taking on consultancy roles with Mashora Advisory and the Access Center for Human Rights (ACHR), building further experience in communications, advisory work, and rights-focused engagement.
Testimonials
"This program was not only about learning business; it transformed my mindset, grew my confidence, and shaped my career path. It showed me that even with challenges, I can keep moving forward, step by step, toward my goals. I learned that resilience is not about never falling — it is about standing up every time you fall. These experiences taught me discipline, empathy for others, and the ability to focus on what really matters, even when the world feels uncertain… I want to mention an important donor who made my MicroMasters journey possible: the Institute of International Education (IIE). I am very grateful for their support and for the life-changing opportunities they provide to students and scholars around the world." Ali Al-Hamadi
“The IIE MicroMasters in Business Management has been a transformative positive step in my professional journey, bridging academic knowledge with the realities of development work. The skills and insights gained have already enhanced the impact of my current role and will continue to guide my contributions to humanitarian and development programs." Ismaeil Al Sous
About the Institute of International Education (IIE)
The Institute of International Education is an independent nonprofit founded in 1919 that designs and implements international education programs, conducts policy research, and provides rescue and emergency support for scholars and students worldwide. IIE's support made the Jusoor MicroMasters in Business Management scholarship possible, funding course access and stipends for all six scholars in Cohort 1.
