Refugees & Higher Education. 9 May 2017 Michael Gaebel, EUA

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1 Refugees & Higher Education 9 May 2017 Michael Gaebel, EUA

2 850 members in 48 European countries Learning and Teaching - Universities in the EHEA Research and Innovation Universities in the ERA Internationalisation European Universities in a Global Context Governance, Funding and Public Policy Development Institutional Development Quality Assurance 2 Henriette Stoeber, EUA

3 2015 Refugees welcome initiative Your initiative counts!! Statement of EUA leadership Questionnaires to members Activities in all countries Many bottom-up: students & staff Individual institutions Coordinated by National Rectors Conferences In regional/national collaboration

4 title

5 University engagement: flexible response to changing needs First aid in 2015/16 Shelter, food, health, Translation & Culture and sports Education & training language courses, intercultural/social skills for refugee & domestic population Training of language teachers, helpers Recognition Study places Language/ study skills Guidance Retention/ study success Institutional strategies

6 Recognition Recognition is one of the most important steps for integration, as it acknowledges the refugees former achievements and gives them dignity. (Special Representative of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe on migration and refugees) LRC SECTION VII recognition of qualifications held by refugees ( ) ENIC-NARIC network European Area of Recognition EAR manual chapter 12

7 Study places - Data on potential number of refugee students In 2015, 663,410 asylum seekers (53% of total applications in EU-28) were in the age group years. (Eurostat 2016) Before the war, 20% of year old Syrians were enrolled in higher and further education (DG NEAR/ Madad fund) Numbers of potential students? Demand? Qualifications? Eligibility?

8 Guidance and consultation Dissemination of study opportunities Comprehensive information on HE system (& labour market), application procedures, recognition Collaboration/training e.g. reception centre staff, study buddies, mentors...

9 Language and preparatory courses Language a precondition for educational success successful societal integration 50%+ of the HEI one the map provide such training in diverse forms

10 Retention and study success Learners with [any] migrant background face higher access barriers into higher education, and are more likely to drop out (e.g. EQNET) Integration services and activities Targeted student services for study success Academic counselling, special leaning support, psychological care

11 Institutional strategies Welcoming refugees as part of the HEI s third mission, social responsibility or general internationalisation activities? Diversity management engrained in institutional mission Intentional, needs-based Overarching: outreach/recruitment teaching and learning services

12 Lessons learned - challenges Coordination/ cooperation A lot of good intention, too many hands Refugees but migration in general Migration centres: accommodation, job, school, university etc. Political landscape policies, legal obstacles Not a recognised institutional goal & activity Done by individuals, small groups tolerated, but not supported No real leadership support Not linked to the institution s strategy & mission

13 Refugees/ Migration a mission for universities 1. Research & research dissemination 2. Third mission contribution to society 3. Learning & teaching: inclusion, diversity management 4. Internationalisation: a global mission

14 Research Need for research & research dissemination: education, sociology, anthropology, economy, law, medicine/health... Citizen science including refugees Research dissemination: facts not just views & opinions Demographic developments: policies & realities Asylum seekers: EU average 260 applications per residents Germany: 587; UK 60 (BBC, 4/3/2016) Regular third country- EU migration: 1.4 Mill per year (excluding asylum seekers ) Family, marriage, students EU migration citizens moving for study, work, internationalisation : students and staff

15 Public perception of migration? A tramp steamer leaving for Italy from Libya.. The next step is a Muslim Europe.

16 Real facts build another narrative Correction: 1991 Albanians traveling to Italy A tramp steamer leaving for Italy from Libya.. The next step is a Muslim Europe.

17 Education Recognition, also in-& non-formal learning Increased attention to learning & teaching Innovation of pedagogies Student centred learning - flexible study paths Digitalisation Social inclusion: access & retention Contribution of internationalisation & outreach to learning Diversity challenge for teaching, asset for learning student experience Diversity management LLL

18 Third mission/ contribution to society Staff & student engagement Working with refugees/ migrants Collaboration with authorities, NGOs, citizens accommodation, work, school, university, social & cultural integration etc. Policy priorities, good practice & research Local & national strategies & policies If not: isolation, social fragmentation etc. at high economic & social costs Migration savvy institutions & societies

19 Internationalisation Engaged/ civic university: Research, education & third mission in a global context Diverse purposes Outgoing staff & student mobility Access for refugees who are already here Bring to our universities HE to refugee camps UNHCR 2016: only 1% of refugees access higher education

20 Erasmus+ Midterm review EUA s recommendations: 8. Increase flexibility to respond to emerging challenges, such as support for refugee students and staff Student grants for full study Fellowships for university staff

21 peer learning webinars collaboration (institutions, with region, municipality, refugees and displaced persons) transferability from & to internationalisation, social inclusion institutional diversity management good practice catalogue Join the UNIMED, Sapienza, University Barcelona Campus France, UNICA

22 Universities & refugees 1. not new 2. not uncontested Unfortunately, there was not much time for networking, because their office was vandalised by Forza Nuova, a grouping of racists 4 March 2017 an EUA college on a meeting with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM)

23 Links and further information Browse EUA s Refugees Welcome Map Showcase your own university s initiative on the map: European Universities for an Open World campaign