According to
UNHCR, only 3% of refugees in the world have access to higher education. Several
barriers hinder access by refugees to higher education, notably lack of proof of prior learning, recognition of credentials, interrupted schooling, language barriers, limited understanding/lack of information regarding the education system in the host country, costs, legislative barriers, among others. Recognising the importance of access and participation in higher education to social inclusion, UNCHR has defined higher education for refugees as a priority area in the last years, both in the
2012-2016 Education Strategy and the
Education 2030: A Strategy for Refugee Education. Also, the
Global Compact on Refugees affirms that “In line with national education laws, policies and planning, and in support of host countries, States and relevant stakeholders will contribute resources and expertise to expand and enhance the quality and inclusiveness of national education systems to facilitate access by refugee and host community children (both boys and girls), adolescents and youth to primary, secondary and tertiary education”.
Higher education
benefits for refugees include increased opportunities of entering the labour market, social and economic advancement and mobility, development of leadership skills and skills necessary for post-conflict reconstruction, protection from marginalization and abuse, among others. Inclusion of refugees in higher education is
also beneficial to higher education institutions, and host communities, enhancing “the international profile of higher education institutions”, and contributing to changes regarding the perceptions around international protection and the “other”. Therefore,
inclusion initiatives must be directed not only to refugees but also to academic staff, teachers, students and members of the host communities at large, and may be adopted by States, by institutions, individually or in consortium, or civil society organizations. These may include legislative changes, adoption or review of existing policies, initiatives by civil society organizations or host communities aimed at reducing or eliminating barriers faced by refugees in accessing higher education.
