There are 68 million displaced persons world wide and only 1% have access to higher education.
These are the often-recited statistics of the global forced displacement crisis. While important, they miss a key point - why higher education accessibility matters.
With the average length of displacement today lasting approximately 26 years, displacement is no longer a transient state. This leaves many university aged persons without the resources to reach higher education. Attention has been given to the disparity in humanitarian aid as many universities and organizations worldwide have committed to helping bridge the accessibility gap through funding and advising services. Still, it is critical to note that supporting vulnerable students does not only support the student. Universities, their campus, and their student body greatly benefit from supporting students from diverse and vulnerable backgrounds.
To show the holistic power of higher education, IIE PEER worked with Bard College Berlin, a member of IIE’s Syria Consortium for Higher Education in Crisis, to create a series of videos showcasing how diverse education access has affected their campus and student body.
Do you support vulnerable students on your campus? Let us know how in the comments.
Why Higher Education Matters to Bard College Berlin
Student Testimonial: Karam Alhamad
Student Testimonial: Wafa Mustafa
Student Testimonial: Anas Al Maghrabi
About IIE PEER
In response to the world’s global education emergencies, the Institute of International Education (IIE) developed the Platform for Education in Emergencies Response (IIE PEER), an online clearinghouse enabling displaced and refugee students to connect with educational opportunities so they may continue formal and informal higher education. IIE PEER is part of IIE’s higher education in emergencies initiatives. IIE has been a world leader in international education since 1919. IIE works to build more peaceful and equitable societies by advancing scholarship, building economies and promoting access to opportunity. As a not-for-profit with 18 offices and affiliates worldwide, IIE collaborates with a range of corporate, government and foundation partners across the globe to design and manage scholarship, study abroad, workforce training and leadership development programs.
For more information, visit IIE's Platform for Education in Emergencies Response and follow us on social media: LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, subscribe to the newsletter.
Written by Sixtine Berquist, Global Education in Emergencies Analyst at IIE PEER. Published on September 5, 2018.
This post was originally published on Sixtine's LinkedIn page. Follow her for similar articles.