Simple Ways Universities Can Collaborate to Bring More Refugees into Higher Education

In Times Higher Education, Rebecca Granato, Director of the OSUN Hubs for Connected Learning Initiatives, recently wrote that there are four basic ways that universities can collaborate to support displaced youth seeking higher education opportunities. Granato notes that educators and administrators have a critical role to play in reaching the UNHCR’s goal to enroll in higher education by 2030 15% of the current 100 million refugees displaced throughout the globe.

Universities can use their sustained partnerships to share best practices and develop new approaches for admitting and supporting refugee students, leveraging collective strengths and resources to advocate with governments for safe and durable solutions.

Granato points out that universities can collaborate on bridging programs that help students prepare for higher education enrollment. For example, OSUN connects 40 institutions across multiple continents, working with partners in the US, Germany, Bangladesh and Kyrgyzstan, who combine their respective strengths to fulfill students’ transitioning needs.
 
Universities can collaborate on third-country education pathways, which open access to students to move from their country of first asylum to a new country for the purposes of education and a more permanent solution. Institutions can offer spaces and advocate with government authorities to create new visa categories and residency solutions separate from the official asylum process, writes Granato.

Universities can collaborate on promoting student engagement so students can galvanize support for displaced youth–as in Canada where student-driven levies have raised enough money to fund scholarships and support for refugees on about 70 campuses. Universities can also collaborate on staff and faculty training so they can adequately support displaced learners upon arrival. 

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Post Date: 07-05-2022