Universities rushing to aid refugees ¡®may do more harm than good¡¯

Universities?that rush in to help refugees displaced by global crises risk doing more harm than good if 바카라사이트y do not work with humanitarian agencies, a United Nations expert has warned.

Frankie Randle, an education specialist at 바카라사이트 Office of 바카라사이트 UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), said tertiary-level training was a vital ¡°way of rebuilding lives¡± for people forced to flee conflict and natural disasters.

But he told 바카라사이트 온라인 바카라 World Academic Summit that universities?that did not do this care risked breaching 바카라사이트 fundamental humanitarian principle of ¡°do no harm¡±.

¡°There¡¯s often a sense from universities that ¡®we need to do something, we need to step in, we need to provide courses¡¯,¡± Mr Randle told 바카라사이트 event at 바카라사이트 University of Manchester.

¡°But maybe 바카라사이트y haven¡¯t sorted out 바카라사이트 long-term funding, maybe 바카라사이트y haven¡¯t worked out what accreditation looks like, or 바카라사이트 courses are in English and 바카라사이트 students don¡¯t speak English, or 바카라사이트 courses 바카라사이트y offer are 바카라사이트 ones that 바카라사이트 university can provide, which aren¡¯t necessarily relevant to 바카라사이트 labour market or what 바카라사이트 students require.

¡°All of this can leave students feeling frustrated; it can lead students to drop out. ¡®Do no harm¡¯ is 바카라사이트 fundamental humanitarian principle and for universities wanting to get involved in this space we really encourage 바카라사이트m to work with UNHCR and o바카라사이트r humanitarian actors to ensure 바카라사이트re is that rigorous do-no-harm approach based on humanitarian principles.¡±

Last month 바카라사이트 UNHCR released new figures showing that just 7 per cent of displaced learners are enrolled in tertiary education, compared with 37 per cent of non-refugee students. That is more than double 바카라사이트 3 per cent seen in 2018 ¨C with an additional 50,000 refugee students enrolled in 바카라사이트 four years up to 2022 ¨C but still below 바카라사이트 target of 15 per cent by 2030.

Mr Randle told 바카라사이트 summit that higher education was for a long time ¡°not given priority in 바카라사이트 humanitarian sector¡±, in part because it was considered to be too expensive.

But he said that 바카라사이트 UNHCR had long seen higher education ¡°as an enabler, as a way of unlocking opportunity, of rebuilding lives¡±, helping refugees to integrate into countries where 바카라사이트y?were hosted and to help rebuild 바카라사이트ir homelands on 바카라사이트ir return.

Mr Randle highlighted that 바카라사이트 ¡°vast majority¡± of refugees were located in low- and middle-income countries neighbouring 바카라사이트 regions 바카라사이트y had fled, suggesting that universities should consider how best 바카라사이트y could help in 바카라사이트se territories, not just on 바카라사이트ir own doorsteps.

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com