Reaching Higher in Greece: A Refugee Pathway toward European Higher Education
Skaramangas refugee camp feels like a place that has been forgotten. In a former Greek navy port under 20 kilometers from the city center of Athens, there are approximately 2,500 residents – Kurds, Iraqis, Syrians, and Afghanis – who step out each day of their container “caravan” homes and pass the time, waiting months if not years for an asylum interview and refugee status to be granted to them. Their former identity, full of personal, professional, and national nuances, is gone. Many first traversed the seas to Lesbos, Greece, after they fled their ho
Yemen: Education Caught in the Crossfire of War
Written by Nele Feldmann. Published on July 30, 2018. The Republic of Yemen was established on May 22, 1990 unifying the North and the South. While hopes for an economically prosperous, politically stable, and peaceful Yemen were high, political violence, including the assassination of former members of the Southern Socialist Party, gripped the country destroying the dreams of a peaceful transition to become one unified Yemen.
The Barriers Facing Ukrainian Tertiary Education
Written by Krikor Yeretzian. Published on July 23, 2018. Four years of conflict between the Ukrainian government and pro-Russian separatists has had serious consequences on the higher education system in the country. Before the start of the conflict, in February 2014, the ‘Euromaidan Revolution,’ which consisted of two months of protesting and violence, made way for the election of a new pro-democracy government, who prioritized higher education as one of the main factors that would allow for Ukrainian integration into Europe.
Nigerian Higher Education Entrenched in the Aftermath of Colonization
Written by Sixtine Berquist. Published on July 16, 2018. Access to and the quality of education in Nigeria is a contentious subject with deep historical ties dating back to British rule of the country at the turn of the 20th century. The ruling style of the British led to North and South Nigeria evolving under varied systems, the former maintaining close ties with Islamic teachings while the latter changed its educational system under the oversight of Christian missionaries.
Hope in Rebuilding Efforts: The Somali Higher Education System
Written by Katherine Miller.Published on July 9, 2018. Since its inception as a nation in 1960 from a British Protectorate and an Italian colony, Somalia has experienced political destabilization. In recent times, the overthrow of the military regime of President Siad Barre in 1991 led to an acute humanitarian and military crisis, and a protracted constant civil war has caused lasting damage to the population of Somalia.[1] The UNHCR recognizes over 1.2 million people of concern both inside and outside of the country.[2] And while decreasing, armed fighting is still present in many
IIE PEER - AACRAO Workshop: Best Practices in Admitting Vulnerable Student Populations to U.S. Campuses
Save the Date
The Institute of International Education’s Platform for Education in Emergencies Response (IIE PEER) and the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) are pleased to inform you that we will be hosting a one-day workshop on October 26, 2018 to discuss:
The Forgotten Refugee Crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Written by Sixtine Berquist. Published on July 2, 2018. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has faced decades of violence, leading to the displacement of Congolese citizens. Yet, the crisis has remained largely unnoticed by the international community as its effects remain within the African continent. The current crisis took hold in the 1990s when the DRC was internationally recognized as Zaire and governed by President Mobutu Sese Seko. As the Rwandan genocide subsided in 1994, many Rwandan refugees and Hutu militia continued to flee into Zaire.
Sudanese Education Crisis Rooted in Civil War
Written by Katherine Miller. Published on June 25, 2018. Prior to the secession of South Sudan in 2011, Sudan was the largest African country, with a land area that marked the country as the 15th largest in the world.[1] The origins of the conflict between Sudan and South Sudan are complex, and partly date back to the colonial era when Sudan's former British rulers gave the north power over the unified country. South Sudan’s population is mostly Christian, while Sudan is predominantly Muslim and Arab.
An Unmet Need: Higher Education in South Sudan
Written by Katherine Miller. Published on June 18, 2018. South Sudan was once part of Sudan, the country to its north. To understand the conflict between Sudan and South Sudan one must examine their historical roots dating as far back as the middle ages.
Security Challenges in Iraq Threaten Education Pursuits
Written by Nele Feldmann. Published on June 11, 2018. A legacy of colonialism, military coups, the Iran-Iraq War from 1980-1988, the Gulf War in 1990, and the US-led invasion in 2003 have deeply destabilized Iraq and created a divided and conflict-torn state.[1] The polarization of Iraq’s various ethnic groups, competing political interests, and the volatile situation in the region have further deteriorated the security situation and the country’s battle against ISIS has been devastating to the Iraqi people.