How does the University of the People support refugee students?

The University of the People is a tuition-free online university that offers accredited programs. They have a significant population of refugee students and offer specific scholarships, such as for Afghan women and Ukrainian students, and provide dedicated program advisors for support.

What are the key challenges in providing post-secondary education to refugees?

Key challenges include access to technology (laptops, internet), application fees, and the need for preparation programs. There's also a need to adapt university curricula to learners' needs and ensure holistic support during their studies, addressing issues like gender balance and local contexts.

How can organizations build effective higher education pathways for displaced communities?

Building effective pathways involves leveraging partnerships, creating inclusive curricula, offering flexible learning opportunities (digital and blended), and focusing on local leadership and contextualized education. Initiatives like OURs use workshops (3C forum) and advocacy to foster collaboration.

What is Arizona State University's approach to refugee education?

ASU's Education for Humanity initiative expands education access through global partnerships, focusing on skills for self-reliance and community engagement. They offer various programs, from English language to entrepreneurship modules, and prioritize understanding local needs.

How can digital learning be balanced with localized educational needs?

The balance involves providing online learning with requisite in-person support, understanding individual learning needs, and ensuring scalability. While digital learning offers reach, localized support and contextualized content are crucial for motivation and success, adapting to specific community needs.

How can education prepare refugees for the future of work?

Preparing refugees for the future of work involves focusing on digital skills gained through online learning, identifying local workforce gaps, and offering relevant training like boot camps. Emphasizing social capital, teaching 'code switching,' and providing direct instruction in digital competencies are also vital.

What is the most critical need in the ecosystem for refugee education today?

Greater cooperation and partnerships between institutions are essential. Streamlined, learner-centric pathways, alongside better funding coordination and a focus on recognizing the value of university access beyond physical presence, are crucial to address unprecedented displacement.

Key Moments

Post-Secondary Pathways for Refugee and Displaced Students

MIT OpenCourseWare

Education4 min read58 min video

Apr 29, 2022|135 views|4

Migration Summit MIT ReACT Higher Education Workforce Development Displacement Refugees

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Key Moments

TL;DR

Post-secondary education for refugees is expanding through online, hybrid, and innovative approaches.

Key Insights

Only 5% of refugees globally have access to higher education, with a target of 15% by 2030.

Online universities like University of the People offer tuition-free, accredited pathways for refugees.

Flexible learning models, including preparation programs and digital literacy training, are crucial.

Partnerships between universities, NGOs, and governments are vital for expanding access.

Workforce development is integrating with education to prepare refugees for future job markets.

Emphasis on learner-centered approaches, including localized content and holistic support, is key.

THE URGENT NEED FOR HIGHER EDUCATION ACCESS

The session highlights the critical gap in higher education access for refugees, with only 5% currently enrolled globally. This stark statistic underscores the UNHCR's '15 by 30' target to reach 15% enrollment for young refugee women and men by 2030. Speakers emphasize that higher education is a fundamental pathway for refugees to rebuild their lives, achieve self-reliance, and integrate into new societies. The current societal obligation, and the mission of institutions like University of the People, is to open accessible and equitable higher education doors for this vulnerable population, recognizing the long-term displacement many experience.

INNOVATIVE MODELS FOR REFUGEE EDUCATION

Several innovative models are being implemented to address the educational needs of displaced learners. University of the People, a tuition-free, accredited online university, provides accessible education to refugees globally, with a significant portion of its student body being refugees from various conflict-affected regions. Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) and its former initiative, Kepler in Rwanda, have pioneered blended learning models combining university education with employment pathways. These approaches emphasize adaptability, learner-centered curriculum design, and a focus on preparing students for the realities of their lives and future careers.

OVERCOMING BARRIERS THROUGH PREPARATION AND SUPPORT

Key to successful post-secondary pathways for refugees is addressing foundational barriers. This includes waiving application fees, providing access to essential technology like laptops, and offering robust preparation programs. These programs, ranging from two to six months, help students adapt to academic life, manage their schedules, and develop necessary study skills. Ensuring gender balance and tailoring preparation to specific challenges, such as men facing incarceration or women managing domestic responsibilities, highlights the need for localized and responsive support systems that facilitate learner success before formal study begins.

ECOSYSTEM BUILDING AND ADVOCACY FOR CHANGE

Initiatives like 'Opening Universities for Refugees' (OUR) focus on building knowledge networks and consortia to expand higher education for displaced communities, particularly in regions like Southeast Asia where formal support is limited. Through '3C Forums' (Collaborate, Create, Change), OUR brings together refugees, organizations, and universities to develop actionable plans. Advocacy efforts also extend to influencing ranking agencies, such as Times Higher Education, to include 'forcibly displaced' individuals in social impact assessments, thereby incentivizing universities globally to engage more proactively with refugee education and recognizing its global significance.

LEVERAGING DIGITAL AND BLENDED LEARNING

The session extensively discusses the interplay between digital and in-person learning. While online learning offers scalability to accommodate large numbers of displaced students, the importance of personalized attention, like program advising, is stressed. Blended or hybrid models are also explored, often involving partnerships with local organizations to provide crucial on-the-ground support. The discussion acknowledges that well-designed online learning can foster community and wellness, distinct from emergency remote learning, and that campuses can also serve as vital physical and social infrastructure during crises, offering a blend of support.

PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE OF WORK

The future of workforce development is a central theme, emphasizing the opportunities presented by remote work for refugees who may be geographically constrained. Programs are prioritizing degrees and certificates in high-demand fields like business administration, computer science, and health sciences, which are conducive to remote employment. The need to understand local contexts, identify workforce gaps, and potentially design specialized 'bootcamp' courses based on employer needs is crucial. Furthermore, developing soft skills, digital literacy, and providing networking opportunities (social capital) are identified as essential complements to academic credentials for securing meaningful careers.

STRENGTHENING THE ECOSYSTEM FOR GREATER IMPACT

The closing remarks call for enhanced cooperation and strategic partnerships to meet the escalating demand for refugee education. Key needs identified include streamlining pathways for learners, fostering 'institutional matchmaking,' and breaking down transitional boundaries between different educational providers and support organizations. A crucial element is actively involving refugees in leadership roles, ensuring their voices and lived experiences shape solutions. The message is clear: every university can and should take on a few refugees, not only fulfilling a human rights imperative but also enriching the educational experience for all students and fostering global understanding.

Mentioned in This Episode

●Organizations

●Concepts

●People Referenced

Common Questions

Currently, only about 5% of refugees have access to higher education globally. UNHCR and partners are working towards a target of 15% enrollment by 2030.

Topics

Health & Longevity Mindset & Self-Improvement Technology & Innovation Society & Philosophy Educational Equity Workforce Development Online Learning Refugee Education Displaced Learners Higher Education Access Global Partnerships

Mentioned in this video

Organizations

MIT Refugee Action Hub

An initiative within MIT Open Learning focused on providing higher education pathways for refugee and displaced learners.

UNHCR

The UN Refugee Agency, a partner committed to achieving a 15% enrollment of young refugees in higher education by 2030 (the '15 by 30' target).

Southern New Hampshire University

An institution where Christina Russell previously spearheaded a model to provide university education and employment pathways to refugee learners in Rwanda.

College Board

An organization with which Christina Russell's work has engaged regarding preparation and access for higher education pathways.

Opening Universities for Refugees

An initiative founded in Singapore to build knowledge networks and consortia offering higher education to displaced communities, particularly in Southeast Asia, using methods like the 3C forum.

Connected Learning in Crisis Consortium

A network of like-minded actors involved in extending education access to refugees and displaced communities, in which ASU participates.

Open Society University Network

A network of institutions that provides opportunities for collaboration and advocacy for students engaged in post-secondary education, with ASU being a participant.

Guilford College

An institution in North Carolina where OURs plans to run projects and build knowledge networks for refugee education.

Yutopian Community Development Council

A refugee resettlement agency in the USA that OURs will work closely with to build knowledge networks.

People

Shai Rashef

President and founder of University of the People, with over 25 years of experience in international education.

Christina Russell

Former Executive Director of the Global Education Movement at Southern New Hampshire University, with extensive experience in bringing university education and employment pathways to refugee learners.

Goli Nader

Founder of Opening Universities for Refugees, with a background in diplomatic history and a focus on higher education for refugees.

Nicholas Sabado

Senior Director of the Education for Humanity Initiative at Arizona State University, leading efforts to extend education access to refugees and displaced communities.

Arizona State University

An institution with a charter focused on inclusivity, which houses the Education for Humanity Initiative dedicated to expanding educational access for refugees and host communities globally.

Software & Apps

University of the People

A non-profit, tuition-free, accredited American online university that provides higher education opportunities to individuals who cannot afford traditional institutions, including a significant number of refugees.

Products

Kepler

A blended learning university program in Rwanda, where Christina Russell previously served as Chief Academic Officer.

Legislation & Policy

1951 Convention

The 1951 Refugee Convention, referenced in the context of countries in Southeast Asia being non-signatory states, highlighting the role of civil society initiatives.

Concepts

15x30 campaign

The UNHCR's target to achieve 15% enrollment of young refugee women and men in higher education by 2030.

Times Higher Education Social Impact Rankings

Rankings that assess data from universities globally in the context of UN's Sustainable Development Goals, which have been refined to include forcibly displaced populations as underserved groups.