Kate Robertson from Cara (Council for At-Risk Academics), one of the UK’s oldest NGOs with a unique role—rescuing academics—shares the inspiring journey of a Syrian academic who first worked at the Open University developing an online course and later secured a global talent visa to work at Oxford University. She offers this success as proof of the transformative power of higher education. However, she also expresses disappointment that international funders consistently undervalue higher education despite its critical role in rebuilding Syria.