HE escaped the war that tore his country apart for a new life in Scotland.
Yesterday Rawad Qaq pledged to help identify victims of the conflict in Syria as he graduated from Dundee University.
The 27-year-old has completed his masters in the highly specialised field of forensic dentistry.
Now preparing to enter into a PhD, he plans to take the training and expertise gained back to his home country to help name those killed during fighting there.
Qaq’s studies at the Scottish institution began after he secured a humanitarian scholarship.
He had been living in Germany until the course began, having endured a perilous 22-day journey to the European nation.
Currently working as a medical interpreter for the NHS, translating Arabic to English for patients in Tayside and Fife, he hopes that by continuing his studies in Dundee to include facial reconstruction he will be able to return to Syria and help identify the victims of war – one of his greatest ambitions.
His further studies will be funded by a three-year doctorate grant from the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF), a £1.5 billion fund announced by the UK Government in late 2015 to support cutting-edge research.
Qaq, who was awarded a distinction for his masters work, said: “You cannot even begin to imagine what it means to graduate with this degree.
“The education here has been fantastic, it has had a huge impact on me.
“Every topic I studied in my masters was related in some way to Syria, whether it was the study of mass graves, identification of people by their teeth, health records or data problems.”
He went on: “I couldn’t help during the war five years ago but now because of studying in Scotland, I will be able to pay back the support I have received here by helping identify the victims of war, not only in Syria but in other countries also ravaged by war like Iraq or Yemen.”
Professor Mark Hector, dean of the university’s School of Dentistry, said Qaq’s academic brilliance had helped secure the GCRF backing.
Prof Hector said: “Rawad is an exemplary student, highly motivated, conscientious, honest, ethical and altruistic.
“Judging from the standard of work he has produced for his masters in the School of Dentistry, I expect that he has the will and ability to become one of the leading experts in forensic dentistry for the identification of the decreased in Europe, if not the world.”
He went on: “Rawad’s research proposal addresses the identification of human remains in a country where ante-mortem records are unlikely to be available or have been completely destroyed by war.
“The outcome of his research would support the efforts to ensure human rights for the victims of the Syrian conflict and to promote justice and peace in Syria.
“As such, we are tremendously proud of his work and what he aims to achieve.”
Qaq was amongst more than 1000 undergraduate and postgraduate students receiving their degrees, diplomas and other qualifications at the university’s Winter Graduation ceremonies over the past two days.
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