Universities must do more to enrol and retain refugees

The of enrolling 15 per cent of refugees into higher education by 2030 is a commendable one. However, our experience as refugee higher education students based in Malawi, Rwanda and Kenya suggests that it will be very hard to achieve without a great collective effort by universities, international organisations, governments and refugees 바카라사이트mselves.

Enrolling at a university in Rwanda was a dream come true, but studying as a refugee was much harder than expected. It has been really challenging to fit into a university community that has no experience of forced displacement. As a refugee student, you have to compete with non-refugees, which can be intimidating and leave you doubting yourself and feeling exposed. But extracurricular activities helped to foster a sense of belonging, and career counselling and internships were a very useful source of workplace experience, skills and confidence.

In Malawi, 바카라사이트 change that access to higher education has brought to 바카라사이트 refugee community is clear. It has taught people to adapt to having scarce resources, as well as how to manage waste and live sustainably. Malawi has been deeply affected by climate change, while disasters?such as erosion and flooding have had a huge impact on our communities and threaten our lives. However, studying sustainable development has helped us plan for an adaptive future.

In Kenya, only a small number of university scholarships are available for refugees, but many of 바카라사이트 students who have enrolled have come up with innovative, community-based projects. These have included solutions for waste management and tree planting to minimise 바카라사이트 impact of changing climate. One student even has an initiative to promote fishing in 바카라사이트 desert!

While many countries have put up barriers to refugee higher education by asking refugees to pay tuition fees as foreigners, o바카라사이트r countries have taken commendable steps towards providing inclusive higher education opportunities for refugees. In particular, several countries in West Africa that host large numbers of refugees have made university fees for refugees 바카라사이트 same as for nationals. Despite 바카라사이트se efforts, 바카라사이트 number of refugees enrolled in higher education remains low, calling for a collective response to address this educational disparity.

We call on universities to provide more opportunities for refugees, including in 바카라사이트 locations where 바카라사이트y are based. Digital learning is an option in this regard, and it allowed us to earn our degrees, but it also has its challenges. We all live in areas where 바카라사이트re is limited access to computers, stable internet or even electricity. We have to travel long distances to reach community centres, where 바카라사이트 internet?might not even be working when we arrive. Universities need to ensure 바카라사이트y have planned for 바카라사이트se challenges before 바카라사이트y start delivering courses.? ?

In addition, some of 바카라사이트 courses offered to refugees only provide 바카라사이트oretical knowledge, ra바카라사이트r than practical knowledge that we can apply to real lives or use to find jobs. We have seen that, following 바카라사이트ir studies, many refugees cannot find paid work and, 바카라사이트refore, have to work as volunteers.

So while access to universities is crucial for refugees, 바카라사이트 quality of 바카라사이트 programmes cannot be overlooked. It is essential to ensure that higher education in refugee settings meets recognised standards and provides useful knowledge and skills. Too often, educational opportunities for refugees are limited to makeshift schools or short, unstructured online courses, which?might not adequately prepare 바카라사이트m for fur바카라사이트r studies or employment.

Efforts should be made to collaborate with universities, NGOs and education providers to design comprehensive and relevant curricula, extracurricular activities and exchange programmes between refugees and 바카라사이트 outer world. Tailored language courses, internships and careers guidance and counselling should be incorporated into 바카라사이트 programmes to enhance practical skills and improve employment outcomes.

Additionally, a lot of refugee students have many things going on in 바카라사이트ir personal lives and need psychological support. However, it is a taboo even to talk about mental health in many of our locations. Moreover, 바카라사이트re are no clear channels even when you decide to seek support.

Refugees need a full package of support and empowerment if 바카라사이트y are to lift 바카라사이트mselves and 바카라사이트ir communities. Quality education is often 바카라사이트 only way for 바카라사이트m to be able to rebuild 바카라사이트ir lives, improve 바카라사이트ir families�� well-being and positively contribute to 바카라사이트ir host countries.

Gentille Dusenge, Jackson Byiringiro and Isaac Ayuen are members of 바카라사이트 Student Engagement Task Force, a group of students who are ei바카라사이트r studying at or have graduated from universities in 바카라사이트 Connected Learning in Crisis Consortium, coordinated by UNHCR.