The Secret Power of Community Colleges in Humanitarian Action - Migration Summit 2023
MIT OpenCourseWareKey Moments
Community colleges are vital for refugee inclusion in higher education and workforce development.
Key Insights
Community colleges offer accessible and affordable pathways to higher education and job training for refugees.
Their open admission policies and flexible programs cater to diverse learning needs and backgrounds.
Community colleges play a crucial role in bridging the gap between basic education and career goals for displaced individuals.
Organizations like UNHCR, the Presidents' Alliance, Every Campus a Refuge (ECAR), and Pima Community College are collaborating to support refugee learners.
New initiatives like the Welcome Corps aim to expand university sponsorship for refugees, with community colleges having a significant role to play.
Community colleges can offer online courses to internationally-bound students, reducing costs and increasing accessibility.
THE UN GLOBAL REFUGEE CRISIS AND THE 15BY30 ROADMAP
The session highlights the immense scale of global displacement, with over 100 million forcibly displaced individuals, including 32.5 million refugees. UNHCR's 15by30 Roadmap aims to increase refugee enrollment in higher education to 15% by 2030. This initiative recognizes that protracted displacement necessitates long-term solutions like education to foster self-reliance and enable refugees to contribute to host societies. The focus is on both in-country higher education enrollment and opportunities abroad, acknowledging that education is a critical component of a sustainable future for displaced populations.
COMMUNITY COLLEGES AS GATEWAYS TO OPPORTUNITY
Community colleges in the US are presented as "the Statue of Liberty" of higher education, offering accessible and affordable education to all. With over 1,160 locations, they focus on classroom teaching, job training, and serve as community resource centers. Their open admission policies contrast sharply with university requirements, making them ideal for refugees and migrants. They provide university-level courses at a fraction of the cost and are swift in developing programs to meet local industry demands, offering certifications in various trades.
OVERCOMING BARRIERS WITH COMMUNITY COLLEGE FLEXIBILITY
Traditional university admissions present significant hurdles for refugees, including English proficiency tests (TOEFL, IELTS), GPA requirements, financial burdens, unfamiliar academic terms, and complex application processes. Community colleges circumvent these barriers through open enrollment and resources that guide students toward their goals. This flexibility is crucial for individuals who may have limited formal education or are still in the process of navigating a new country and culture, offering a viable pathway to higher education and career advancement.
PIMA COMMUNITY COLLEGE'S COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT MODEL
Pima Community College's Refugee Education Program offers free services under the non-credit sector, funded by various grants. They provide adult basic education, English as a Second Language (ESL), citizenship preparation, and transitioning programs. The program is open enrollment, accommodating the diverse needs and schedules of newly arrived refugees, including those with emergent literacy needs. They create personalized pathways, supporting students from basic literacy to GED attainment, and then transitioning them to credit-bearing courses or degree programs.
THE PRESIDENTS' ALLIANCE AND EVERY CAMPUS A REFUGE (ECAR)
The Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration supports over 550 institutions, including a significant portion of community colleges, in expanding opportunities for refugee and immigrant students. They work at the intersection of higher education and immigration policy, providing technical assistance and advocating for inclusive policies. Every Campus a Refuge (ECAR) mobilizes colleges to host refugees on campus, providing housing, facilities, and resettlement support. This initiative offers a unique model for universities to live out their values, provide practical educational opportunities, and foster community integration.
INNOVATIVE PATHWAYS AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS
The discussion highlighted innovative approaches like online learning from US community colleges for location-bound students, university sponsorship models, and the new Welcome Corps program for private sponsorship, which will include a higher education pathway. These initiatives aim to broaden access and provide comprehensive support. The speakers emphasized the ongoing need for collaboration between educational institutions, humanitarian organizations like UNHCR, and governmental bodies to further leverage the untapped potential of community colleges in serving displaced populations globally.
Mentioned in This Episode
●Supplements
●Software & Apps
●Organizations
●Concepts
●People Referenced
Common Questions
The 15by30 Roadmap aims to achieve 15% enrollment of refugee youth in higher education by 2030. This initiative underscores the importance of accessible education for refugees, recognizing that prolonged displacement necessitates skills development and professional qualifications for self-reliance.
Topics
Mentioned in this video
A member of the Migration Summit organizing committee who co-wrote the summit song using the 'stories to song' technique.
Senior Program Coordinator for Every Campus a Refuge (ECAR), supporting higher education institutions in hosting and resettling refugees.
A community college involved in a program that supports immigrant and refugee students in transferring to four-year institutions.
A consortium of California education institutions where Jing Luan was a founding director and chairman, promoting international education.
A member of the Migration Summit organizing committee and MIT ReACT alumni who co-wrote the summit song.
Director of Refugee Student Initiatives at the Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, focusing on expanding opportunities for refugee students.
Program Manager at Pima Community College's Refugee Education Program, overseeing English language training and student pathways.
American International Recruitment Council, an organization where Jing Luan served as president, focused on international student recruitment.
A college in Kentucky with a program focused on career pathways for students, helping them transition from community college to their career goals.
Jing Luan's former institution, highlighted as a key education provider in supporting refugees, forming part of a 'four-legged chair' analogy.
An organization mobilizing and supporting US higher education institutions to expand opportunities and access for refugee and immigrant students.
Consortium of Community Colleges in Immigrant Education, a resource and network for community colleges, whose resources are being expanded on the higher ed immigration portal.
The broader effort by colleges and universities in the U.S. to provide access, support, and opportunities for refugee and displaced students.
Integrated Education and Training programs that allow students to simultaneously pursue ESL classes or GED preparation and college courses.
A phrase used by President Obama and First Lady Jill Biden to describe community colleges, highlighting their understated but significant value.
Public, taxpayer-supported institutions in the US offering accessible higher education, job training, and community resources, particularly valuable for displaced populations.
Works for UNHCR in the education section and serves as the moderator for the session, leading the discussion on refugee higher education.
A policy common in community colleges where students are admitted first and then guided with resources, contrasting with more rigorous university admissions and making higher education more accessible.
An objective set by UNHCR and partners to achieve 15% enrollment of refugee youth in higher education by 2030, highlighting the need for accessible education pathways.
An organization that supports higher education institutions in the US to host refugees on campuses and aid in their resettlement.
Provost emeritus of International Affairs at San Mateo Community College, who provided extensive insights into the role and accessibility of community colleges.
A program at Pima Community College offering free English language training and educational pathways for refugees and adult learners.
A Quaker liberal arts college where the ECAR idea originated, and which successfully hosted a refugee family.
A pathway for individuals or groups to sponsor refugees, with the Welcome Corps being the U.S. version that includes higher education engagement.
Jing Luan's former institution, where he worked extensively on helping displaced people and served as a key example of community college engagement.
Refers to refugees accessing university education within the countries that host them, a key component of UNHCR's 15by30 Roadmap.
An analogy used by Jing Luan to represent the essential collaboration between UNHCR, Presidents' Alliance, ECAR, and education providers like Pima in supporting refugees.
The US version of private sponsorship for refugees, which included a forthcoming college and university model pathway.
General Educational Development test, for which Pima Community College prepares students to obtain a high school equivalency diploma.
A model, inspired by international examples, where universities provide direct immigration and educational pathways for refugee students.
Test of English as a Foreign Language, mentioned as one of the English proficiency requirements for university admissions that can be a challenge for refugees.
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