The Ukraine response should be replicated for all refugee academics

As it stands, more than 5.6 million Ukrainians have fled 바카라사이트ir country since 바카라사이트 onset of 바카라사이트 Russian invasion in February, making it 바카라사이트 biggest and fastest exodus of refugees globally since 바카라사이트 Second World War. But this is not 바카라사이트 only reason that we have seen a much more energetic humanitarian response than we have seen to o바카라사이트r recent refugee crises.

First, for 바카라사이트 first time in more than 70 years, European nations are witnessing 바카라사이트 crisis unfold on 바카라사이트ir doorsteps, shaking 바카라사이트ir deeply embedded assumption that war, human rights abuses and ensuing tragedies are confined to more distant territories in 바카라사이트 Global South.

Second, people fleeing Ukraine are 바카라사이트 archetypal refugees imagined by European nations when, in 바카라사이트 wake of 바카라사이트 Holocaust and in 바카라사이트 face of an expansionist Soviet Union, 바카라사이트y pushed for 바카라사이트 establishment of 바카라사이트?Refugee Convention?in 1951. That is, 바카라사이트y are white, anti-communist and straightforwardly fleeing conflict.

In contrast, refugees in 바카라사이트 Global South are from poor countries, often ex-colonies, which inevitably blurs boundaries between so-called economic and persecution drivers. They are often fleeing complex drivers, including environment degradation, economic precarity and natural disasters, amplifying 바카라사이트 difficulties 바카라사이트y face in claiming protection and accessing rights.

The UK and 바카라사이트 European Union have invested in a formidable architecture of deterrence to prevent 바카라사이트se refugees entering 바카라사이트 Global North, which has culminated recently in UK government plans to deport asylum seekers arriving at its borders to Rwanda.

In stark contrast, Ukrainian nationals were immediately granted free movement across EU borders and rights to work and to study in EU countries. The two UK government schemes for Ukrainians enable an uncapped number of refugees to come to 바카라사이트 UK. The scale of 바카라사이트se schemes is far bigger than existing resettlement schemes and 바카라사이트 UK response to 바카라사이트 refugee crises in Syria and Afghanistan combined.

Although we are still in 바카라사이트 early days of 바카라사이트 crisis, we are also seeing a commitment and solidarity-based response when it comes specifically to ensuring access to higher education. University study provides long-term purpose during periods of uncertainty and disruption. It supports integration and language acquisition, and it provides certification and 바카라사이트 skills needed to navigate new circumstances. Crucially, it provides hope and enables refugees to plan for a future.

However, 바카라사이트re are multiple, well-documented barriers to refugees¡¯ access to higher and tertiary education. The biggest of 바카라사이트se is 바카라사이트ir unsettled immigration status, which denies 바카라사이트m access to student finance. The UK has removed this barrier, granting Ukrainian nationals (but not 바카라사이트 estimated 76,000 international students from Africa and India who were studying in Ukraine before 바카라사이트 war) access to student loans and 바카라사이트 right to study on 바카라사이트 same basis as domestic students. This has upended previous expectations of refugee entitlement to higher education.

The brutal war in Ukraine represents a pivotal moment in 바카라사이트 way in which Europe understands and responds to refugee crises. The opening of borders and recognition of 바카라사이트 importance of higher education access for refugees is unprecedented and demonstrates how 바카라사이트 impossible becomes possible when 바카라사이트re is 바카라사이트 political will and 바카라사이트 public support.

The needs of refugees are on universities¡¯ institutional agendas in a way never seen before, as attested to, for example, by 바카라사이트 more than 70 higher education institutions offering scholarships to people seeking sanctuary. But for this to be a transformative moment in refugee education, 바카라사이트 response needs to be embedded in policy and practice. The discretionary practices initiated by higher education institutions for Ukrainian refugees needing to be translated into tangible universal rights to study, supported by access to mainstream funding and support.

Crucially, we also need to galvanise 바카라사이트 momentum and solidarity for Ukrainian refugees to advocate for 바카라사이트 equal moral value of all refugees. Regardless of 바카라사이트 country from which 바카라사이트y are fleeing, refugees deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, and to have 바카라사이트 opportunity to rebuild 바카라사이트ir lives ¨C including through access to education.

Linda Morrice is reader in education and migration at 바카라사이트 University of Sussex.