RATIONALE
Global events have resulted in the widespread displacement of people due to a diverse range of issues including (but not limited to): violent conflict, persecution, climate change, poverty and deprivation. The UNHCR estimates that the number of displaced people has doubled over the course of the last decade and is now estimated to be 82.4 million (UNHCR, 2021). The agency and mobility utilised by people to flee is often met by state-led strategies resulting in immobility, forcing those who have been displaced to the periphery of countries (camps) and civil society (restricted access to employment and / or education). Displacement is used here as a broad (umbrella) term that transcends formal immigration categories widely used to define motivations for movement and the legal entitlements (or lack of) afforded to people when they move to a new location.
Over the course of the past decade the issue and importance of access to higher education for people experiencing displacement has risen up the global agenda. UNHCR estimates that 6% refugees access higher education in comparison with 37% of the wider global population. The ‘15by30’ programme has set itself a target, to increase the number of refugees in higher education to 15%, by 2030. The concept of lifelong learning utilised here extends from compulsory schooling to tertiary and higher education, technical and vocational courses, informal education programmes and initiatives designed to promote mobility such as complementary pathways.
OPERATIONAL PLAN
This research cluster promises to develop a strategic and impactful research agenda, but we realise that in its inception we need to invest time in developing membership and a meaningful understanding, in respect to how we can work effectively together. Its development is critical in terms of the need to:
- Develop a shared vision for the cluster (memorandum of understanding) centred on an interrogation of the critical tensions between global frameworks and policy goals, their (dis)connection with the everyday reality of displacement and that is shaped by the intrinsic knowledge and experiences of people directly affected by these challenges.
- Build an international network of local actors – including academics, students, networks, NGOs, educators and individuals – that explores the different roles, contributions and collaborations that each can contribute.
- Explore the promotion, implementation of and information sharing about inclusive opportunities which support access and participation in tertiary and higher education.
- Reduce inequalities outlined in the SDGs (4 and 10) and the Global Compact on Refugees enacting the rights outlined in the UNDHR Article 26.
The prioritisation of access to higher education for people fleeing conflict and persecution is clearly reflected in international legislation. A direct consequence is the increased attention that this issue has received from NGOs working across the third sector to promote the rights and entitlements of this group. In addition to which, scholarly work exploring the role of higher education in mitigating and exacerbating the impact of displacement has developed considerably since the 2015/16 ‘migrant crisis’ in Europe. The focus now needs to shift to develop better cross national and international connections within and between a diverse range of actors, in order to explore how research can support practice.
Action at the local grassroots and (higher education) institutional level predates the international focus on access to university. However, there is a need to create stronger connections between the local and the global, with a view to understanding how challenges coupled with solutions and good practice, transcend national, country and legislative contexts.
Panel presentations and discussions focusing on higher education, international and local policy were delivered during IASFM18 and IASFM19. The opportunity to develop a dedicated research cluster presents an excellent and timely opportunity to develop a formal network of partners who wish to explore the issues raised in greater depth, with an aspiration in the longer term to create tangible impact in this area.