ERIC Number: EJ1119934
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2016
Pages: 5
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0729-4360
EISSN: N/A
University Students from Refugee Backgrounds: Why Should We Care?
Lenette, Caroline
Higher Education Research and Development, v35 n6 p1311-1315 2016
In resettlement countries like Canada, the United States, and Australia, research suggests that higher education is vital to ensure well-being, greater socioeconomic integration and inclusion, and successful settlement of refugee communities to make a positive contribution to society. Refugees across the globe have high educational aspirations and strongly value education as an important tool to restore dignity, security, and hope. The onus rests on Australia's tertiary education system to provide appropriate support to refugee students in order to set them up for success. Although universities promote equity of access and participation, they have been slow to address the lack of tailored support for refugee students, preventing them from reaching their full potential. There are a number of initiatives aiming to facilitate refugees' access to university; however, there are no clear frameworks to assess the extent of, let alone address, the specific needs of refugee students. Teaching and general staff who have worked with refugee students often concur that they may present with significant issues, resulting in staff feeling out of their depth and uncertain about their pedagogical approach. From the outset, the lack of accurate figures on how many students from refugee backgrounds attend Australian universities is a problem, and little is actually known about how refugee students navigate their educational trajectories. This represents a significant barrier to higher education for an underrepresented group with high aspirations and potential. This article discusses the two main reasons why universities should care about understanding and addressing the specific needs of refugee students: (1) a moral obligation; and (2) a socioeconomic impetus.
Descriptors: College Students, Refugees, Immigrants, Public Policy, Land Settlement, Access to Education, Student Needs, Barriers, Higher Education, Disproportionate Representation, Role of Education, School Responsibility, Moral Issues, Economic Opportunities, Educational Opportunities, Well Being, Equal Education, Foreign Countries
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 325 Chestnut Street Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Fax: 215-625-2940; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Australia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A