UEL’s response to the Syrian Refugee Crisis

World Association forSustainable Development 2016

Professor John J. JoughinVice ChancellorUniversity of East London

Our Commitment to:

Social Mobility

• Ensuring that our students have the opportunity to initiate change in their lives, maximise their potential and attain the educational experience that

enables them to succeed in their chosen career, whatever their background

Social Justice

• Ensuring we remain committed to the principles of equality and diversity and that we continue to stand against all forms of discrimination and injustice

Social Innovation

• Working with our communities to deliver applied and sustainable solutions to the societal and environmental challenges that we face

University of East London’s response to the Syrian Refugee Crisis

UEL: London’s Leading University for Civic Engagement

• Centre for Refugees, Migration and Belonging

• Raft of International Development Programmes UG and PG

• Home for the Refugee Council Archives

University of East London’s response to the Syrian Refugee Crisis

UEL: London’s Leading University for Civic Engagement

The underlying philosophy - Taking a Capability Approach to human development

• The Capability Approach pioneered by the work of Amartya Sen

• Development measure in terms of creating capabilities in health, education and wellbeing

• UN’s Human Development Index rather than GDP

• Different measures of wealth

• Beyond monetary indices, the Capability Approach Takes into account what people are able to do in shaping their own lives

University of East London’s response to the Syrian Refugee Crisis

UEL: London’s Leading University for Civic Engagement

The underlying philosophy - Taking a Capability Approach to human development

• The Capability Approach focuses on the importance of:– Agency– Actualisation– Affiliation

• Higher education contributes to ‘creating capabilities’ especially in terms of developing affiliation – being ‘able to live with and toward others… and show concern for other human beings’ (M.Nussbaum)

• The importance of development civic engagement – students who play an active role in developing their communities.

University of East London’s response to the Syrian Refugee Crisis

UEL: London’s Leading University for Civic Engagement

New pathway projects – London Scholars

The London Scholars programme is a six month long applied academic project addressing a tangible issue, focusing on a practical approach with defined outcomes

• Analysis of barriers to the development and progression of professional footballing in the Asian community

• Equality and diversity – training as an interpreter/cultural broker

• Assessing the access and acceptability of mobile app use for mental health disorders

• Assessing the association of perinatal mental health and housing

• Addressing the lack of basic literacy skills in young people

• The creation of a living wage zone in Newham

University of East London’s response to the Syrian Refugee Crisis

UEL: London’s Leading University for Civic Engagement

Our response - UEL in Calais – ‘University for All’ with residents of the so-called ‘Jungle’ refugee camp in Calais

• Accredited short course on ‘Life Stories’ – students from a range of countries Sudan, Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, Syrian, Ethiopia etc.

• Supported by UEL’s Civic Engagement Fund

• Interdisciplinary Approach from staff and students combining Art, Poetry, Film and Photography

University of East London’s response to the Syrian Refugee Crisis

UEL: London’s Leading University for Civic Engagement

Our response:

• Ten Postgraduate Scholarships

• Focused on those who are recognised as requiring ‘humanitarian protection’ and granted an immediate UK visa

• Operating in the first instance within a framework that is consistent with all the above mentioned status for those fleeing or who have recently left Syria

University of East London’s response to the Syrian Refugee Crisis

• Umbrella Group hosted by Citizens UK

• Focused on all aspects of the resettlement programme

• HE – 74 places offered by UK Universities alone

• Over 30 different Universities

• Includes an Alliance of other Groups including Article 26

University of East London’s response to the Syrian Refugee Crisis

National Refugee Welcome Board

Key Challenges:

• Broader issue of refugees / asylum seekers

• Maintaining focus on Syrian and HMG target of 20,000 resettled refugees

• Co-ordination of offer–matching supply and demand

Role of Education Working Group

University of East London’s response to the Syrian Refugee Crisis

National Refugee Welcome Board

Key Opportunities:

• Alignment of HMG and the UN Refugee Agency UNHCR

• Productive dialogue with HMG and UUK

• Evolving role of NRWB / Alliance of HE providers post-crisis?

Role of Education Working Group

University of East London’s response to the Syrian Refugee Crisis

National Refugee Welcome Board

Questions and / or Suggestions