When civil war erupted in Sudan, devastating its capital, Mashreq University faced near-total destruction as its campuses were looted and occupied by paramilitary forces. However, the institution’s prior investment in digital infrastructure, honed during the COVID-19 pandemic, became an unexpected lifeline. Executing an emergency cloud backup of all academic records, the university then located its scattered students and staff through an online survey. This allowed them to pioneer a resilient new model, establishing physical teaching centers in safer cities like Port Sudan and Cairo while offering live virtual classes for students abroad. By blending online theory with practical partnerships in local hospitals and factories, they not only preserved education but also innovated it. Their story is a powerful testament to how foresight, flexibility, and technology can uphold hope and normalcy, proving that learning truly has no borders, even in the face of overwhelming conflict.
The Conversation
