Political violence, growing authoritarianism and the ensuing ‘refugee crisis’ have considerably augmented pressure on higher education institutions to integrate displaced students and scholars. Different European countries have implemented programs to guarantee access to higher education for displaced students and to support at-risk scholars in continuing their academic work. They try to foster collaboration at national and international level in order to consolidate common strategies.
Forced outflows raise several challenges for receiving universities, in terms of curricula adaptation, recognition of credentials and diplomas and overall integration capacities. They also urge European universities to engage in a self-reflexive assessment of their present capacity to reflect traditional values of academic freedom, social inclusiveness and equality.
The organisation of the workshop ‘Refugees and Higher Education’ at the University of Trento draws from the recent creation (February 2019) of the Italian section of Scholars at Risks (SAR Italy): a network comprising today 20 universities and research institutes in the country.
The workshop aims at bringing together institutions, organisations, displaced scholars and students involved in the SAR network, in a view to foster a dialogue aimed at sharing good practices, reflecting on common challenges and responses, and developing future collaborations. It is organised by SAR Italy together with the Rectorate Office of ‘Equality & Diversity’ and the International Migration Laboratory of the University of Trento. It is open to all scholars, students, administrative staff and members of the civil society.