Session
✅ Included for all participants
As global displacement continues to disrupt access to education, higher education institutions and national agencies are developing new models of collaboration to support refugee and displaced students. This panel session will highlight two innovative initiatives – the Global University Academy and the EU Mobility Programme for Myanmar – that exemplify how strategic partnerships can create sustainable academic pathways in crisis settings.
Jonah Kokodyniak, Executive Vice President, Program Development and Partner Services, has more than 15 years of service at the Institute of International Education and serves as a member of its executive team.
He plays a leadership role at IIE developing and managing partnerships with public and private sponsors. Mr. Kokodyniak oversees IIE’s Research, Evaluation and Learning practice and support for the U.S. Department of State’s EducationUSA Global Services; Corporate and Foundation Programs; and Scholar Rescue Fund. He also supervises the Institute’s work and offices in the Middle East, Asia and Latin America.
During his career, Mr. Kokodyniak has developed new, large-scale education initiatives with leading multi-national companies, including Microsoft, Cargill, Sony Music Group, and Goldman Sachs, among others; private foundations; and numerous U.S. government agencies and other governments around the world. He oversees IIE’s work on programs that include the Qatar Scholarship, the Quad Fellowship, Schwarzman Scholars, and the KAUST Gifted Student Program, among others.
Mr. Kokodyniak received an M.A. with Honors from the New School and a B.A. from the University of Vermont. He has also received training at Columbia Business School, the MIT Sloan School of Management, and the Center for Creative Leadership.
Marianne is Secretary General of the Global University Academy, a pioneering international initiative working to expand access to higher education for refugees and displaced learners. With a background in political science and two decades of experience in higher education policy and strategy, Marianne has served as senior advisor to the Rector and university leadership at the University of Oslo. Her work spanned from European university alliances, science policy, institutional partnerships, and humanitarian collaboration. Previously, she held positions with the UNDP, the U.S. Embassy in Oslo, and the Norwegian Parliament, and has contributed to national and international discussions on education, governance, and access to information. Marianne combines deep policy insight with a strong commitment to equity, innovation, and global collaboration in education.
The Global University Academy is a collaborative initiative uniting universities and partners worldwide to expand access to higher education for refugees, displaced learners, and host communities. By pooling expertise and resources, we are working to deliver innovative, scalable, and internationally recognised learning opportunities that support durable solutions to displacement.
