Expanding refugee sponsorship and complementary education pathways: key takeaways from the Bologna conference

Strengthening and expanding higher education pathways to Europe for refugee students, is the ambition of the Manifesto launched at the occasion of the international Conference on Universities as Sponsors which took place at the University of Bologna on 10-11 March 2022. The conference, organised by the Share Network in partnership with Caritas Italiana/Consorzio Communitas and the University of Bologna, brought together actors from multiple levels engaged in complementary education pathways. Together, they exchanged, shared best practices and discussed common advocacy strategies and operational frameworks to expand tertiary education opportunities for refugees.

“We should not move from one crisis to another but invest in long-term programmes that can be developed across European countries”— Petra Hueck, ICMC Europe Director

Complementary education pathways have increasingly gained traction on the European and global policy stage as several pathways for refugee students with differing structures have developed in recent years. To build on this momentum and to strengthen and expand existing initiatives, the Share Network together with partners held the Universities as Sponsors Conference in Bologna on March 10 and 11.

Over 90 participants from Italy, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Portugal, the UK and Canada attended the conference. They represented a variety of stakeholders ranging from higher education institutions, student associations, refugee students, regional authorities, researchers, and civil society. Participants were provided with a forum to exchange and share best practices on different aspects of the existing programmes including identification and referral, selection, funding, integration support and protection safeguards. It further provided the chance to discuss common advocacy strategies and operational frameworks to expand tertiary education opportunities.

Taking place during the first month of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the conference also offered initial reflections on the repercussions for Ukrainian refugee students while not forgetting the many needs of other refugees, notably Afghans.

The key takeaways from the conference

“In Canada, collaborations and partnerships on campus at the local, national and regional level are crucial: the more diverse the partners are, the more successful the scheme is” – Michelle Manks, WUSC

Expanding and creating higher education pathways for refugees to Europe is a task that must be undertaken by a multitude of stakeholders. This was one of the main takeaways from the discussion in Bologna. A multi-stakeholder approach enables cooperation and the creation of partnerships at the regional, national, and local level. Specifically, the conference panels emphasised the efficiency and importance of diverse local partnerships with civil society, diaspora, migrant-led organisations, students, university staff, municipalities, and the private sector to support refugee students’ welcome and inclusion. This network of actors including the EU and governments can provide growth and sustainability to the existing programmes as well as encourage the creation of new initiatives.

Key lessons were learned regarding structures and procedures needed in first countries of asylum and selection criteria. Good cooperation with local actors on the ground is needed during the selection process, and selection criteria should be rigorous but adaptable to refugees’ particular situations as necessary. It further emerged that it is important to not only focus on academic merits, but also on personal motivation demonstrated during interviews, when selecting beneficiaries.

During the post-arrival and integration phase, the important role played by refugees who had gone through the programme to support newcomers, as well as peer support from fellow university students was stressed. Furthermore, labour market integration must be an integral part of programme design from the outset. Monitoring and evaluation as well as facilitating refugee participation were also highlighted as tools to improve programme design.

A common Manifesto setting out the roles and commitments of the different stakeholders

During the conference, participants were offered as well the opportunity to discuss and reflect on a proposed joint Manifesto to mobilise support for higher education pathways (the initiative builds on successful examples, such as the Italian UNICORE programme, the German DAAD Leadership for Syria and Africa and the Student Refugee Program (SRP) in Canada managed by WUSC).

Through this petition signatories express their commitment to work towards common advocacy, strategies, and the development of operational frameworks to further expand and create higher education pathways for refugees in Europe.

This commitment is even stronger considering the ongoing needs of Afghan refugees and the rapidly escalating war in Ukraine, with Ukrainians and other nationals fleeing in record numbers. This unprecedented situation will require higher education institutions, civil society, and communities, to offer large scale refugee scholarships and support to arriving students so they may continue their education and rebuild their lives and futures.

To read the full manifesto and sign onto it please see here.

The Bologna conference is only the first of a series of initiatives that will take the Manifesto across Europe to mobilise support and endorsements. Visit the Share website to learn about future initiatives!